[Chapter-delegates] Application to form a Chapter in Belgrade, Serbia

Tue Apr 1 02:41:27 PDT 2008

Respectfully friends,

We purposely chose not to get involved in this issue immediately having idea 
that in the world there are people who have understood the essence and who 
will raise their voice against this. This is not only about new romantic 
chapter which will expand our community. This is about the most malicious 
intention which lasts for some time now. About all of this, two years ago, 
we have notified David McAuley during our visit to Reston. Of course Lyn 
StAmour was also notified (see link http://www.isoc-srbija.org/english/  ). 
Last year we also visited Reston with intention to submit the complete 
report but most of the officers were out of the office.

The group of people which includes Desiree Miloshevic and Slobodan Markovic 
is even back then tried to overtake the legal Serbian Chapter (they even 
purchased the domain name http://www.isocserbia.org/ before us trying to 
present themselves as "Internet Community of Serbia" - not Belgrade). They 
knew that ISOC Serbia already exists and they could join but they wanted 
separated "their own" organization because of pure financial and 
materialistic reasons. All this time they are working on it.

At the meeting of ISOC Serbia Chapter it was decided that Prof. dr Dragan 
Cosic is ISOC Serbia coordinator for Belgrade. You can see that on the link 
http://www.isoc-ecc.org/mambo453/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=32&Itemid=46 
as well as on http://www.isoc-srbija.org/english/  . The coordinator for 
Vojvodina province was also designated (but it seems that Vojvodina is not 
interesting for them at this moment). For Kosovo there is nobody designated 
as coordinator because Kosovo had intention to become separated from 
Republic of Serbia. Our country has suffered greatly during previous years 
and had many shakings and troubles because of separatism and unpleasant 
experiences because of separatist tendencies. The group which is trying to 
deceive international community has that same idea of separatism. 
Unfortunately, they found support among people of which just few are 
honorable but not informed about whole situation. Some of them in this group 
have abused their positions in international organizations and they 
overtaken the ccTLD without any right to do it. So that now they are trying 
violently to shut down .yu ccTLD (even though many internationally known 
organizations suffer greatly because their internationally known domain is 
being violently shut down by introducing new ccTLD .rs). Please note that 
.yu was FREE of charge because we are country in very painful transitions 
and their .rs domain name which is being introduced violently costs many 
times more than international domains (about $50 USD !!! in our country 
where average monthly salary is about $300 USD !!!). By creating "new" 
chapter they are trying to create confusion because of the resistance which 
Internet Community has towards their trick with change of domains (which is 
basically their attempt to gain personal benefit and financial gain).

At this moment Serbia is in very difficult situation because of many 
separatist ideas and movements. There is transition period of short-term 
governments and constant elections on all levels. Common people never lived 
as hard as they do today. Attempt which is made by this group is something 
worst for the Internet in Serbia which could happen to us since the Internet 
was introduced in Serbia. There was also one more attempt which was led by 
Branislav Andjelic but because of that and other abuses he already got 
arrested and now is in prison, so that he was not able to make that much 
damage to Internet in our country. We will continue to track the activities 
of some of the members of this group and be sure that in medias you will 
find their names with whole story about what have they done and why they 
were arrested and imprisoned. We are sorry that in this group there are 
mentioned just few honorable people who are probably deceived and do not 
even know what is going on.

Everybody has a right to organize separately but you who allow this must 
know that by that you support separatism. In USA (and some other countries) 
city Chapters are normal (because of decentralization and better 
organization). In small country such as Serbia (which has less citizens then 
just New York !!!) dividing Internet community will not contribute to better 
organization but instead to weakening of Internet community (which is the 
primary goal of this group - to weaken Internet community and be free to do 
what they want because there would be confusion who leads internet community 
and what is internet community....). They also need formal chapter in order 
to be able to cover their abuses and to try to present as they have support 
to sell expensive ccTLD domain names even though Internet Community clearly 
expressed that nobody supports them.

This is not standard romantic situation we have when some new chapter wants 
to organize and expand ISOC ideas. This is very dangerous, abusive and 
harmful project made just for profits and personal financial gain. And 
please remember, official ISOC Serbia coordinator is already designated and 
it is Prof. dr Dragan Cosic (one of the Internet pioneers in Serbia) who is 
also member of the ISOC European Chapters Coordination Council. Official 
ISOC Serbia Chapter recommends all Chapters to be very careful and to 
postpone accepting chapter like this at least until the situation becomes 
clear.

Regarding activities of the ISOC Serbia chapter, as always we will soon come 
to Reston and submit complete report with all details.

ISOC Serbia Chapter
Prof. dr Mile Vasiljevic

____________________________________________________________

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sabrina Wilmot" <wilmot at isoc.org>
To: "Chapter Delegates" <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 12:29 PM
Subject: [Chapter-delegates] Application to form a Chapter in 
Belgrade,Serbia

> Dear Colleagues,
>
> The following application for a Chapter in Belgrade, Serbia, has been
> received. It is being sent to this list for peer comment and review.
>
> Please note that the Chapter is not yet formed and has not officially
> been recognised by ISOC.
>
> If there are people on this list that know the individuals proposing to
> establish the Chapter, feedback is especially welcome.
>
> The period allowed for comments is 2 weeks and the deadline is 1st April
> 2008.
>
> Please do not hesitate to contact me on or off list.
>
> Best regards,
> Sabrina Wilmot
> ISOC
> -------------------------------
>
> Chapter Application for ISOC Chapter Belgrade
>
> A. Name of chapter
> Internet Society of Belgrade, Serbia, Chapter of the Internet Society.
>
> B. Geographic area that chapter serves
> Belgrade
> The Belgrade Chapter of Internet Society will be based in Belgrade, the
> capital of Serbia. It will serve the local Internet community in
> Belgrade, as well as it may from time to time serve the wider Internet
> community in Serbia and in South Eastern Europe, if the purpose and
> scope of the Chapter differs from the existing chapters in the area.
> The ISOC Chapter Belgrade welcomes an opportunity to work jointly on
> projects with other ISOC Chapters in Southeastern Europe and it
> encourages other ISOC Chapters to form freely in other parts of the
> country as of when and if such need arises.
>
> Belgrade (Serbian: Београд, Beograd) is the capital and largest city of
> Serbia. The city lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers in
> north central Serbia, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan
> Peninsula. With an official population of 1,282,801 (city) and 1,576,124
> (metropolitan area)(2002), Belgrade is the largest city in the territory
> of the former Yugoslavia, and the fourth largest in Southeastern Europe,
> behind Istanbul, Athens and Bucharest. Belgrade has the status of a
> separate territorial unit in Serbia, with its own autonomous city
> government. Its territory is divided into 17 municipalities, each having
> its own local council. It covers 3.6% of the territory of Serbia, and
> 21% of the Serbian population lives in the city. Belgrade is the central
> economic hub of Serbia, and the capital of Serbian culture, education
> and science.
>
> Serbia borders Hungary to the north; Romania and Bulgaria to the east;
> Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the south; and
> Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the west. Serbia
> covers the area of 88,361 km2 and has the estimated population of
> 9,778,991 citizens (approximation form 2006.).
>
> C. Purpose and Scope of Chapter
> The purpose and the scope of the chapter is:
> * to promote ISOC goals mission and principles described herewith:
> http://www.isoc.org/isoc/mission/principles/
> * to support and promote adoption and development of open standards and
> open protocols
> * to enable programs and improve Internet access for disabled users
> * to keep the members and public informed with regards to the latest
> developments, activities and initiatives in the sphere of the Internet
> and Internet regulation locally and internationally
> * to help implementation of ICT projects (those that relate to the
> Internet)
> * to organise consultations with Internet users and hands-on training
> activities
> * to reach out, co-ordinate and co-operate with other national and
> international organisations, professional institutions and individuals
> of similar aims and goals and contribute to the exchange of information
> and best practices and improve standards of IT services
> * to co-ordinate society activities and secure financial stability
> necessary for day-to-day operation
> * to provide a forum for discussion of issues that affect Internet 
> evolution
> * in accordance with its findings, to make recommendations and inform
> relevant ministries as well as other state actors on how to develop and
> improve the state of Internet in the country
> * foster more opportunities for Internet professionals in Serbia to
> participate in local and International community activities
>
> D. List of founding members of Internet Society Chapter of Serbia
> 1. Vedran Vucic, Chairman, Linux Centar
>    Belgrade
> 2. Slobodan Djinovic, President, MediaWorks
>    Belgrade
> 3. Desiree Zeljka Miloshevic, ISOC Board Trustee (Serbia/UK)
>    Belgrade/London
> 4. Zarko Paunovic, Faculty of Political Sciences
>    Belgrade
> 5. Aleksandar Markovic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
>    Belgrade
> 6. Dr Olivera Vukicevic-Radic, Institute for Biological Research
>    Belgrade
> 7. Dusan Jovanovic, Dipl Arch
>    Belgrade
> 8. Ivan Jelic, President, Free Software Network Serbia
>    Belgrade/Kraljevo
> 9. Tijana Mahieu,
>    Belgrade
> 10. Srdjan B Stakic, Dipl Eng
>     ISOC Belgrade Chapter application
>     Belgrade
> 11. Nebojsa D. Skrbic, Vinca, Institute of Nuclear Sciences
>     Belgrade
> 12. Zoran Pantelic, Dipl Arch
>     Belgrade
> 13. Milena Milivojev,
>     Belgrade
> 14. Marija Knezevic
>     Belgrade
> 15. Tihomir Trivunac,
>     Belgrade
> 16. Zivko Milosevic, Parallel d.o.
>     Belgrade
> 17. Vladimir Radunovic, DiploFoundation
>     Belgrade
> 18. Nikola Bozic, DiploFoundation
>     Belgrade
> 19. Nikola Kepcija
>     Belgrade
> 20. Milan Kovacevic
>     Belgrade
> 21. Slobodan Markovic, CENTAR za Razvoj Interneta
>     Belgrade
> 22. Goran Dimitrijevic, PC World Micro
>     Belgrade
> 23. Gogana Modusan
>     Belgrade
> 24. Sanja Ralevic
>     Belgrade
> 25. Majda Kozelj
>     Belgrade
>
> E. list of supporters
> Societies:
> 1. Linux Centar, Belgrade
> 2. NetCentar - Center for Internet Development
> 3. FSN Serbia - Free Software Network Serbia
> Individual supporters:
> Drazen Pantic, Co-founder of OpenNet, Internet Department of B92 Radio
> Station, http://www.location1.org/drazen_pantic.html/
>
> F. Government requirements for forming a chapter group (fees,
> documentation, or any other requirements that are necessary)
> * Ministry's approval of ISOC Serbia (Belgrade) incorporation
> * Registry Fees
> * ISOC Serbia (Belgrade) Bylaws
>
> G. Additional Information
> Members of ISOC Serbia Belgrade met over the last two years in Belgrade
> and since then have been working on several Internet related projects
> together. When seeking legal assistance to establish a non-for-profit
> company in Serbia under the name of "Internet Drustvo Srbija", our legal
> adviser recommended to wait until the referendum in Montenegro takes
> place (May 2006). Only after the referendum, the society formally
> decided on the organisation's name and incorporated as the
> non-for-profit company under the name of: Internet Society of Serbia, in
> translation, Internet Drustvo Srbija (Belgrade) last year 2006.
> However, since there is an existing ISOC chapter of Serbia, and since
> our scope and focus of work is different, we are happy to send in
> application and be known as ISOC Chapter Belgrade, although our official
> non-for-profit company registration is in the name of ISOC Serbia.
> Bylaws and registration documents with company’s seal are attached.
>
> H. Address or contact information Internet Society of Belgrade, Serbia –
> Internet Drustvo Beograd, Srbija
> Vukice Mitrovic 42
> 11 000 Belgrade
> Serbia
> Phone: +381637822692
>
> ----------------------------------
>
>
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> 