REPORT
for the follow up project titled “Capacity Building for Analysis andReduction Measures of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Serbia”
Experts from Japan visit, January 2016

Dr. Vladimir P. BEŠKOSKI
Prof. Dr. Takeshi NAKANOJanuary 2016,
BELGRADE, SERBIAMEMBERS OF THE EXPERT GROUPFROM JAPAN WHO VISITED SERBIA IN JANUARY 2016
Experts from Japan (who visited Serbia under the auspices of the Project):
1. Prof. dr. Takeshi NAKANO, Osaka University and Hyogo Environmental Advancement
Association
2. Dr. Yasuhiro KANDA, Hyogo Prefectural Institute of Environmental Sciences (director)
3. Dr. Toshiki FUJII, Hyogo Environmental Advancement Association, Kobe, Japan
Representative of JICA Kansai
1. Ms. Akiko NISHIHARA, JICA Kansai, Japan

ACTIVITIES REALIZED IN SERBIA PRIOR ARRIVAL OF EXPERTS
FROM JAPAN1. Courtesy call for experts from Japan and representative of JICA Kansai at Faculty ofChemistry, University of Belgrade (FCUB) and meeting with the Prof. Ivan Gržetić, Dean of
FCUB was scheduled for Monday, January 18, 2016 (12:00h).
2. Meeting with the members of the Project from University of Belgrade was scheduled for
Monday, January 18, 2016 (13:00-16:00h).
3. Courtesy call and meeting with Mr. Aleksandar Vesić, Deputy Minister, Ministry ofAgriculture and Environmental Protection of Republic of Serbia (Sector for the planning andmanagement of the environment) was scheduled for Tuesday (10:00-11:00h) (Annex 1).
4. Visit to Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and meeting with Mr. Filip
Radović, Director of SEPA and Mr. Zoran Stojanović, Head of environmental laboratory in
SEPA was scheduled for Tuesday (12:00-16:00h).
5. Meeting with the members of the Project from Pančevo city and representatives of Pančevo
industrial zone (Oil refinery, Petrochemical industry and Fertilizer company) was scheduled
for Wednesday, January 20, 2016 (10:00-14:00h).
6. Workshop in Pančevo for Pančevo city officers, high school professors from Pančevo,individual agricultural producers, representatives of the Pančevo industrial zone, citizens,
Institute Tamiš, SEPA. The workshop was scheduled for Thurdsay, January 21, 2016
(10:00-15:00h). Invitation letter was distributed to more than 50 e-mail addresses. (Annex
2).
7. Meeting with representatives of the high schools from Pančevo (Economic and trade Highschool "Paja Marganović") and Schools which students from Pančevo attend (Agricultural
high school from Futog, and Agricultural high school from Vršac) was scheduled for
Friday, January 22, 2016 (10:00-14:00h).
8. Visit to Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University ofBelgrade was scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2016 (10:00-14:00h).

ACTIVITIES REALIZED IN SERBIA DURING VISIT OF EXPERTS
FROM JAPAN
Saturday, January 16, 2016
ACTIVITIES PLANNED•••

Departure from Japan for Prof. Takeshi NAKANO and Ms. Akiko NISHIHARA
Arrival at Belgrade airport of Prof. Takeshi NAKANO
Arrival at Belgrade airport of Ms. Akiko NISHIHARAACTIVITIES REALIZED•Prof. NAKANO had arrived according to the plan, flight number TK 1083,19:15h
Saturday, January 16 (Fig 1.) Ms. NISHIHARA was welcomed by representatives of JICA
Balkan office.

Fig 1. Prof. Nakano arrival to Belgrade airport

Sunday, January 17, 2016
ACTIVITIES PLANNED••

Departure from Japan for Dr. Yasuhiro KANDA and Dr. Toshiki FUJIIGCxGC-MS analysis at Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade - FCUB (presentation- GCxGC-MS - Vladimir Beškoski)

ACTIVITIES REALIZED•At FCUB, Dr. Vladimir BEŠKOSKI had gave presentation titled " Comprehensive GCxGCMS, training, usage, experience at FCUB" to Ms. NISHIHARA and Prof. NAKANO (Fig 2& 3) (Annex 3). After presentation, analysis of the sample of agricultural soil from Pančevo
city polluted with pesticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) whose usage is
prohibited, was conducted using GCxGC-MS (Sample PA-2). Results were the same aspreviously analyzed at FCUB and repeatability was confirmed. Results of analysis are given
in Annex 4.

Fig 2. Ms. Nishihara and Prof. Nakano at
FCUB, GCxGC laboratory

Fig 3. GCxGC-MS installed at FCUB

Monday, January 18, 2016
ACTIVITIES PLANNED•••

Meeting with the representatives of JICA Balkan office (10:00h) (Taxi) (Belgrade)
Meeting with Prof. Ivan Grzetic, dean of FCUB, (12:00-13:00) (FCUB, Belgrade)
Meeting with project members from FCUB (13:00 - 16:00) (FCUB, Belgrade) Library of theFCUB.
ACTIVITIES REALIZED

From 10:00h to 11:00h courtesy call at JICA Balkan office was held. At the meeting
representatives of JICA Balkan office in Serbia Mr. Toshiya ABE, resident representative of the
JICA Balkan Office and his deputy Mr. Ryohei ANZAI. welcomed colleagues from Japan Prof.
NAKANO, Dr. KANDA, Dr. FUJII, representative from JICA Kansai, Ms. NISHIHARA, andSerbia Dr. Vladimir P. BEŠKOSKI (Fig 4 & 5). They all expressed mutual satisfaction regarding
past and ongoing activities and future perspective of the grassroot Project and collaboration
between institutions from Japan and Serbia. Prof. NAKANO had presented activities planned forthis visit. Mr. ABE was interested in the Project and possibilities for future collaboration andpossible Phase II of this Project.

Fig 4. Meeting in JICA Balkan office with Mr.
Abe and Mr. Anzai

Fig 5. After the meeting in JICA Balkan

From 12:00-13:00h meeting with the Dean of the FCUB, Prof. Ivan Gržetić was held at FCUB
(Fig 6). As on before meetings, the mutual satisfaction with the Project development was
expressed. Dean of FCUB pointed out that Prof. Nakano and experts from Japan can count on
FCUB and its capacities now and in the future.

Fig 6. Meeting with Prof Gržetić, dean of FCUB

Following the meeting with the Dean of FCUB, meeting with the members of the Project from
University of Belgrade was held at the library of FCUB. On that meeting, former participants ofthe training held in Japan in 2014, dr. Mila ILIĆ and dr. Jelena MILIĆ had presented realizationof their action plans (Annex 5 & 6). The next presentation titled "PROJECT UNDER JICA
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM “CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ANALYSIS AND REDUCTION

MEASURES OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN SERBIA” – ACTIVITIESRELEASED IN 2014/2015" was given by Project coordinator for Serbia, dr. Vladimir P.
BEŠKOSKI (Annex 7). Dr. Beškoski stresed out that untill now, within the Project, thefollowing activities with particicpation of experts from Japan had realized in Serbia:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

22 Lectures given by experts from Japan
3 Workshops for researchers from University of Belgrade
2 Workshops for farmers and residents of Pančevo city
1 Workshop for representatives from industrial zone from Pančevo
2 Popular Science events for high school and University students
3 Round table meetings with more than 40 participants each
6 High school visits

History of GCxGC-MS usage at FCUB:
o The Instrument was installed in 2014.
o In March 2015 we had a two weeks training for GC-MS. Researchers who attended thistraining from FCUB and Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy (IChTM):
Dr Vladimir Beškoski (FCUB), Dr Mila Ilić (IChTM), Dr Jelena Milić (IChTM), Dr
Gordana Gojgić-Cvijović (IChTM), Dr Tanja Šolević (IChTM), Dr Ljubodrag Vujisić(FCUB), Aleksandra Djurić (FCUB), Marija Lješević (FCUB).
o In September 2015 we had a one week training for GCxGC-MS usage: Researchers who
are trained to use GCxGC-MS: Dr Vladimir Beškoski (FCUB), Dr Mila Ilić (IChTM), Dr
Jelena Milić (IChTM), Dr Gordana Gojgić-Cvijović (IChTM), Dr Tanja Šolević (IChTM),
Dr Ljubodrag Vujisić (FCUB), Aleksandra Djurić (FCUB), Marija Lješević (FCUB).
o Present operators on GCxGC-MS: Dr Vladimir Beškoski, Aleksandra Djurić (PhD
student), Marija Lješević (PhD student) and Dr Srdjan Miletić
o Total time operated on GCxGC-MS is more than 500 hours.
o Number of samples analyzed until January 2016 is more than 700.
Pančevo city officials and researchers from University of Belgrade who visited Japan:
1. Mr. Vladimir DELJA, Member of the City Council of Pančevo City, in charge forenvironmental protection and sustainable development
2. Ms. Olga ŠIPOVAC, Secretary of Environmental Protection division of Pančevo City
3. Ms. Biljana Đordan, Environmental Protection division of Pančevo City - inspector
4. Ms. Vesna PETKOVIĆ-BOROVNICA, Environmental Protection division of Pančevo
City - inspector
5. Dr. Mila Ilić, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy - researcher
6. Dr. Jelena MILIĆ, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy - researcher
7. Prof. dr. Miroslav M. Vrvić, Faculty of Chemistry – full professor
8. Prof. dr. Branimir JOVANČIĆEVIĆ, Faculty of Chemistry – full professor
Also, dr BEŠKOSKI, pointed out that Action plans from 2014 training are finished and that
Action plans from 2015 are presently in realization.

Final presentation titled "Chemical Management by Business Operators in Japan - An Outline ofJapanese PRTR System" was given by dr. Yasuhiro KANDA (Annex 8). At the meeting Project
members from nine institutions took participation. List of the participants at the meeting is given
in Annex 9 and photos from this event at Fig 7-10.

Fig 7. Dr. Mila Ilić is giving talk about
realization of her action planFig 8. Dr. Kanda is giving lecture about
Pollutant release and transfer register in JapanFig 9. Ms. Nishihara and Prof. Nakano with
GCxGC-MS operators and PhD students
Marija Lješević and Aleksandra Djurić

Fig 10. Joint photo after meeting at FCUB

Tuesday, January 19, 2016
ACTIVITIES PLANNED••

Meeting with representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of
Republic of Serbia (Mr. Aleksandar Vesic, Deputy Minister, Sector for the planning andmanagement of the environment) (10:00-11:00h)
Visit to Serbian Environmental Protection Agency - SEPA (12:00 - 16:00h)
ACTIVITIES REALIZED

Courtesy call at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Republic of Serbia
and meeting with Deputy Minister Mr. Aleksandar Vesić, was held as planned (Fig 11-12). At
that meeting, Deputy Minister confirmed importance of this Project for Government of Serbia
and residence of Pančevo city. He stressed out that this Project is also helping fullfill some partsof the Update of the National Implementation Plan of Stockholm Convention on POPs chemicals,
and that representatives of the Ministry are ready to cooperate and help in realization of our
Project. One more time he expressed his satisfaction with this Project, especially since he wasparticipant of one JICA training held in 2004 at Kitakyushu University in Japan.

Fig 11. Meeting with Mr. Aleksandar Vesić
Deputy MinisterFig 12. Joint photo at the Ministry ofAgriculture and Environmental Protection of
Republic of Serbia

After this meeting, visit to SEPA was conducted. Before meeting with SEPA director, avisit to SEPA laboratories was conducted. Our hosts were Director of SEPA Mr. Filip Radović
and Head of environmental laboratory, Mr. Zoran Stojanović (member of our Project). The aimof visit to SEPA was to discuss about plan for future soil monitoring system in Pančevo city andinclusion of the Agency to the next phase of the project. During the meeting, discussion about
importance of the contribution of the Government of Japan through the donation of equipment,
transfer of knowledge and results gained from previous projects were pointed out (Fig 13-14).
Details about this visit can be found at SEPA web page (Annex 10).

Fig 13. Meeting in SEPA with Director andHead of environmental laboratory

Fig 14. Meeting in SEPAADDITIONAL ACTIVITY
In the evening, meeting with movie director and professor from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts,
University of Belgrade Miloš Pavlović and professor of informatics Ante Čurlin was organized.
On this meeting, use of new softwares and comunication technologies was discussed in order toeasy up in the future comunication between experts from Japan and researchers from Serbia, as
well as between high schools and their students from two countries (Fig 15-16).

Fig 15. Meeting with Prof. Miloš Pavlović

Fig 16. Meeting with Mr. Ante ČurlinWednesday, January 20, 2016

ACTIVITIES PLANNED•

Meeting with project members in Pancevo city and representatives of the Industry inPancevo, (10:00-14:00h)
ACTIVITIES REALIZEDThe meeting was held in the Pančevo city hall and besides experts from Japan (Prof. NAKANO,Dr KANDA, Dr FUJII), representative of JICA Kansai (Ms. NISHIHARA), members of the
Project from FCUB (Dr BEŠKOSKI) and Pančevo city (Ms. Olga ŠIPOVAC, Mr. Vladimir
DELJA, Ms. Biljana DJORDAN, Ms. Vesna PETKOVIĆ-BOROVNICA, Mr. Milan GLUMAC),
also representatives of Pančevo industrial zone, Institute Tamiš and Pančevo Public HealthInstitute were present:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Ms. Iboja RAŠA, HIP Petrochemistry (environment protection department)
Saša BOROZANOVIĆ, HIP Petrochemistry (environment protection department)
Gordana VASOJEVIĆ, HIP Fertilizer factory (environment protection department)
Staniša BRANKOV, NIS Gaspromnjeft (Pančevo Oil Refinery) (environment protection
department)
Djordje KOMNENOV, NIS Gaspromnjeft (Pančevo Oil Refinery)
Aleksandra KLJAJIĆ, NIS Gaspromnjeft (Pančevo Oil Refinery)
Ljiljana LAZIĆ, Pančevo Public Health Institute (director)
Maja SUDIMAC, Institute Tamiš
Nikola ŠKRBIĆ, Institute Tamiš (director)

On this meeting discussion on stronger involvement of companies from Pančevo within the
Project were discussed. Colleagues from the industry had presented most importantenvironmental issues regarding historical pollution in their companies. The biggest problems arepollution of ground waters with Vinyl chloride monomer, Ethylene dichloride, Mercury.
Representatives of the HIP Petrochemistry expressed willingness to organize in the future
lecture/presentation which will be given by experts from Japan in their company. Director of the
Pančevo Public Health Institute showed great interest to organize joint workshop for Pančevo
city residents under our Project. As a conclusion, three aspects were highlighted: soil monitoring,sanation/remediation and education of the workers, who are also residents of Pančevo city (Fig
17-20).

Fig 17. Meeting in Pančevo city hall

Fig 18. Meeting in Pančevo city hall

Fig 19. Pančevo city officers and experts fromJapan

Fig 20. Joint photo with representatives fromPančevo industry

Thursday, January 21, 2016
ACTIVITIES PLANNED•

Workshop in Pancevo for Pancevo city officers, high school professors from Pančevo highschools, individual agricultural producers, representatives of the Pančevo industrial zone,
citizens, Institute Tamiš, SEPA) (10:00-15:00h)

ACTIVITIES REALIZEDThe workshop titled "Persistent organic pollutants in the environment - the situation in Pančevo"was carried out according to the following schedule:

Opening Ceremony
10:00-10:05h Mr. Saša PAVLOV Pančevo city Major.
10:05-10:10h Mr. Anzai RYOHEI representative of JICA Balkan office.
10:10-10:20h Ms. Akiko NISHIHARA, representative of JICA Kansai.
10:20-10:30h Mr. Ivan DJURIĆKOVIĆ, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental
Protection of Republic of Serbia had read the letter of regards sent by the Deputy Minister Mr.
Aleksandar Vesić.
Presentations
10:30-11:00h Review of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention in the Republic of
Serbia, Ivan Đuričković, a national contact person for the Stockholm Convention, the Chemicals
Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection (on Serbian) (Annex 11)
11:00-11:30h The communication strategy and raising awareness of POPs chemicals inaccordance with the draft of the updated National Implementation Plan to implement the
Stockholm Convention, Alexander Rašović, Department of Chemicals, Ministry of Agriculture
and Environmental Protection (on Serbian) (Annex 12)
11:30-12:00h The transposition of the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council no.
2004/35 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remediation ofenvironmental damage in national legislation, Tina Janjatović Department for Normative Affairs
and harmonization of regulations in the field of environment, Ministry of Agriculture andEnvironmental Protection (on Serbian) (Annex 13)
12:00-12:30 Coffee brake
13:00-13:30h Mr. Vladimir Delja, JICA participants presentations - realization of Action plans(on Serbian) (Annex 14)
13:40-14:00h Dr. Jelena Milić, JICA participants presentations (on Serbian) (Annex 15)
14:00-15:00 Dr. Vladimir BEŠKOSKI & Prof. Takeshi NAKANO - Results on agricultural soil
analysis conducted at FCUB and Japan (monitoring result) (metals and pesticides, PCBs, PAHs,
phosphate flame retardants) (on Serbian and English) (Annex 16)
Workshop was organized by Pancevo city officers, for high school professors from Pančevo highschools, individual agricultural producers, representatives of the Pančevo industrial zone,
citizens, Institute Tamiš, SEPA) (Fig 21-24). List of the audience is given in Annex 17.

Fig 21. Opening ceremony

Fig 22. Addressing of Ms. Nishihara

Fig 23. Audience at the workshop

Fig 24. Presentation of the Aleksandra Rašović
from Ministry of Agriculture andEnvironmental Protection

Fig 25. Prof. Nakano and Dr. Beškoskipresentation

Fig 26. Prof. Nakano is giving interview toRadio Television of Serbia

Media coverage of the workshop was excellent. During and after workshop, experts from Japan,
and representatives from Pančevo city, FCUB and Ministry gave interview to journalist fromRadio television of Pančevo (Annex 18), Radio television of Vojvodina (Annex 19) and Radio
television of Serbia (equivalent to NHK in Japan). Also, journalist from newspaper Vecernje
Novosti wrote one article about workshop (Annex 20)

Friday, January 22, 2016
ACTIVITIES PLANNED•

Meeting with representatives of the high schools from Pančevo (Economic and trade Highschool "Paja Marganović") and Schools which students from Pančevo attend (Agricultural
high school from Futog, and Agricultural high school from Vršac) (10:00-14:00h).
ACTIVITIES REALIZED

Visit to High school from Pančevo (Economic and trade High school "Paja Marganović") andmeeting with representatives of Agricultural high school from Futog, and Agricultural highschool from Vršac, which students from Pančevo city attend was realized as planned. The
purpose of the visit was to enhance collaboration between schools and to give support highschool professors from Pančevo and surrounding cities (Fig 27 & 28). During the meeting withprofessors, vcube video conference with prof. Takaoka KAE from high school from Kakogawa
was held. After the meeting, high school students gave tour guide around Pančevo city to experts
from Japan. As a result of this visit, Pančevo Statement was produced, the document whichshould increase collaboration between high schools in Pančevo and Vojvodina area (Annex 21).
Also, Ratio television from Pančevo had reported about importance of this visit and support ofJapan for high schools in Pančevo regarding environmental protection (Annex 22).

Fig 27. With the students of High school "Paja
Marganović" in Pančevo

Fig 28. Guest from Japan and high school
profesors from Pančevo, Futog and Vršac

Saturday, January 23, 2016

ACTIVITIES PLANNED•

Visit to Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University ofBelgrade (10:00-14:00h).

•

Departure from Serbia (20:00h) (Belgrade)

ACTIVITIES REALIZED
Visit to IMGGE was held according to the plan. Experts from Japan (Prof. NAKANO, Dr
KANDA and Dr FUJII) and Project coordinator from Serbia (Dr BEŠKOSKI) were welcomedby IMGGI director Dr. Jelena BEGOVIĆ, Dr. Aleksandra NIKOLIĆ, Dr. Dragica
RADOJKOVIĆ, Dr. Sanja Jeremić and Dr. Ivana MORIĆ (Fig 29 &30). Director of the IMGGI
held a presentation about activities of the Institute and during the meeting disscusion about how
IMGGI can help our Project to achieve all goals and how to improve life of the residents fromPančevo city. Furthermore, discussion about collaboration in the future was held. Details about
the visit are posted on IMGGI web page (Annex 23).

Fig 29. Meeting in IMGGI

Fig 30. At the IMGGIAs planned, Prof. dr. Takeshi NAKANO, Dr. Yasuhiro KANDA, and Dr. Toshiki FUJII had left
Serbia with the flight number TK 1084 (20:20h) from the airport "Nikola Tesla" in Belgrade.
Belgrade, January 28, 2016