The promotion of book dedicated to the 140-year-long history of this humanitarian organization Red Cross in our city was held today. The Red Cross in Nis was founded 140 years ago, and since then, this organization has helped refugees from the wars, those who are affected by natural disasters, the poor and the sick. The opening of the Red Cross Nis Office was initiated by Doctor Vladan Djordjevic, who participated in the liberation wars from 1876 to 1878. The book was prepared by the longtime secretary of this organization Stojan Prokopovic and Djordje Stamenkovic. The Steering Committee of this organization over the years often included Nis City mayors such as Dimitrije Kocić – Mita, Todor Milovanović, Ljubisa Ljuba Stanojević, Petar T. Arandjelovic and Dragisa Cvetkovic. The Red Cross mission is to ease human suffering. Based on this briefly defined mission of this organization, the Red Cross, depending on the causes of human suffering, and adapts its programs, in order to fulfill its basic task. Hence the tasks of the Red Cross are not the same in the war times and in the time of peace – it is stated in the book.

The Day of Victory over Fascism in the Second World War was marked today by laying of flower wreaths at the monument to the liberators of Nis on the Square of King Milan. Nis City delegation led by the Mayor Darko Bulatovic paid their respect within the official ceremony. The delegations of the Serbian Armed Forces, the Police, the Nisava Administrative District, the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center and many others also paid their respects to the war veterans who fought against fascism. Previously, in the Army Hall, the academy was held on which occasion the memories of the glorious days and the struggle for the final breakup from Nazi Germany were evoked. In the presence of the city’s leaders, the wreaths were also laid at the monument dedicated to Russian pilots from where the crowd of citizens gathered to embark on a symbolic walk in the streets of the city with a simple message that the revival of this kind of ideology should never happen again. Serbs had the significant role in the victory over fascism and thousands gave their life for freedom and respect for human dignity. Today, the Republic of Serbia firmly stands for the principles of peaceful co-operation and advocates tolerance and cooperation with other Balkan countries, but also contributes to overall efforts to achieve stability in the region.  On the same day the Day of Europe was celebrated by the exhibition of creative works created in the EU Info Corner and programme for children.

On this day in 1999, NATO planes dropped cluster bombs on the center of Nis. In Sumatovačka Street, near the city market, just next to the Fortress, 16 innocent civilians were killed, including a pregnant woman in the seventh month of pregnancy. On the same day more than 60 people were killed from cluster bombs in Serbia. On the occasion of remembering this day and the civilian casualties the official city delegations paid their respect by laying flower wreaths at Monument dedicated to the victims of NATO bombing. Since 2015, May 7^th was established as a Day of Remembrance for Civilian Victims of the NATO Aggression when it was first marked within the State Program of Celebrating Anniversaries of Historical Events of the Liberation Wars of Serbia

German company Leoni, which produces optic fibers and cables, today opened a new facility in Nis at which 1,123 workers will be employed. Car cables will be produced here on 20,000 square meters, and around EUR 22 million was invested in the facility. The state helped the opening of the facility through purchase of land for the construction and through subsidies for Leoni. The company plans to employ 2,200 people by the end of the year, together with the workers in Nis. The opening was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said that the state had done a lot for Nis, which should be the center of that part of the Balkans. Mayor Darko Bulatovic, who also attended the opening, said on this occasion that in addition to Leoni three other new companies IMI , Zumtobel and Johnson Electric will be opened in Nis

by the end of the year, and the total number of new jobs in these companies will be about 7,000 and that meant an increase in budget revenues in the coming years of several hundred million dinars.  The value of Leoni’s investments in Serbia so far amounts to EUR 75 million, and they’ve employed over 6,000 workers in the country. Last year alone, the company realized exports from Serbia in the amount of EUR 145 million and is one the 10 biggest exporters.
Leoni opened its first plant in Serbia in Prokuplje in 2009, its second one in 2014 in Malosiste, Municipality of Doljevac, and then another one last year in Nis. As Clemens Sachs, director of Leoni in Serbia, says, the company has paid a total of EUR 130 million to the state budget in various fees and taxes since it started operating here. With next year’s opening of a plant in Kraljevo, which will have 45,000 m2 and another 20,000 m2 of accompanying features, and at which 4,000 workers will be employed, Leoni will become the biggest employer in Serbia, with over 11,000 employees and 110,000 square meters of production facilities.
Leoni, whose headquarters are in Nuremberg, Germany, has 93 plants in 31 countries.

The fair is intended for the students of the final grades of high schools and represents the opportunity to find out more about possible future calling in one place directly from the representatives of the faculties of the different universities in direct contact and conversation. The opening of the fair was also attended by Nis City Mayor Darko Bulatovic who, on this occasion, pointed out that the task of every serious local government was to help young people when it was about their vocational training for future calling.

Serbian Armed Forces Day is marked on 23^rd April, on the anniversary of the beginning of the 1815 Second Serbian Uprising which marked the long road towards the restoration of Serbian independence after years of Ottoman occupation. Military ceremonies, display of weapons and equipment,  and laying of wreaths and flowers at the memorials to fallen members have been conducted today in all the commands, units and institutions of Serbia to celebrate the Serbian Armed Forces Day –23April.  In Nis the main ceremony was organized at the Memorial Complex Bubanj. On behalf of the City of Nis Mayor Bulatovic congratulated all members of the army. The Serbian army was formed from the group of rebels, from the people who took to guns to win their freedom. There lie the roots of the deep connection between our people and our army. The Serbian Armed Forces nourish this essential link and it remains committed to the citizens of Serbia. Citizens also recognize this fateful relationship and appreciate the efforts the army makes for the common good.

Spring Job Fair organized by the National Employment Service and supported by the City of Nis was opened today. The unemployed had an opportunity to get acquainted with potential employers and find vacancies at the fair. On this occasion Nis City Mayor Darko Bulatovic spoke about the unemployment situation in the city. Compared to 2016, when there were 33,000 unemployed people in the city, this number is now reduced to around 27,000. The City of Nis allocated funds to support different programmes which facilitated different programmes for securing employment.

Serbian-Hungarian Forum on Water Management was opened today gathering companies from two countries operating in the sector of water management. Nis City Mayor Darko Bulatovic welcomed the participants and emphasized the excellent cooperation between the two countries. In his address the Mayor spoke about the high quality drinking water in the city, but also about the problem of wastewater, which the city seriously approached and intended to permanently solve. The Ambassador of Hungary in Serbia, His Excellency Attila Pinter, also attended the Forum, which also highlighted the importance of improving relations between the two countries, especially when it comes to the economy.

Nis City Mayor Darko Bulatovic and his associates met today with a delegation of businessmen from the People’s Republic of China led by H.E. Ambassador of China to Serbia, Li Manchang. The possible joint projects of the City and Chinese businessmen were discussed at the meeting such as regional landfill and street lighting in the city. At the same time, the representatives of the City of Nis also presented projects for the construction of a logistics center, scientific and technological park, as well as light rail transport that could also be realized in cooperation with Chinese partners. Mayor Bulatovic and Ambassador Li Munchang agreed that the potential for cooperation was large and that, after further consultations and analyzes, concretization of what was discussed today could be expected.

The 15^th anniversary of the French Institute in Nis was celebrated. The French Institute is part of the 130 French institutes in the world. In Serbia, the French institute is located in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis. The mission of the French Institute is to reinforce the French language in Serbia in education (schools, trainings, universities), to enable students to go and study in France: give them an opportunity for mobility in Europe, to encourage society debates, to provide a resource center, to stand as a cultural actor in Serbia, to advise Serbia in its integration process in the European Union and institutional cooperation.  At the ceremony on this worthy anniversary the audience was addressed by H.E. the Ambassador of France to Serbia, Frederik Mondoloni, and Nis City Mayor Darko Bulatovic. Since its establishment on April 16^th, 2003, the French Cultural Center – now the French Institute in Serbia is more than ever present in the field of culture, science and university cooperation. As the part of the celebration the exhibition of paintings Aleksandra Miric was organized.