How would you describe the situation in Jat when you took over as director general as well as the financial indicators for this year?

- Jat's standing has significantly improved over the past several years. We were able to overcome the consequences of serious strikes of 2004 and 2005 and, for the first time since the breakup of SFRY, ended last year in the black. Our expectations are that 2007 will also be positive providing we collect some of the larger debts (for the nine-months, the balance was 184 million dinars in the black). This will probably result in our leaving behind the ranks of loss-making companies where we had been for some length of time. In terms of its operations, Jat is currently doing very well. Our company is highly appreciated internationally. One can find proof of this in the fact that we received IOSA twice, without a single negative point. This is a great success.

The main story we are hearing about Jat these past months pertains to privatization. How is it getting along and when is it expected to be seen through?

- The privatization procedure has not yet officially been launched. So far, a privatization advisor has been chosen through a tender - the Rothschild Company, which has been entrusted with the task of defining privatization courses and strategy. These days, Rothschild is near rounding off the strategy and, most likely, there would be an international tender. However, these are questions for the Privatization Agency of the Republic of Serbia.

How would you describe Jat's cooperation with Aeroflot? Have there been any concrete discussions about strategic partnership with Aeroflot and its participation in privatization of Jat?

- There is general satisfaction as regards Jat-Aeroflot cooperation, which has remarkably been upgraded over previous years. With seven shared flights per week in 2004 and 2005, we have now reached 14 flights a week and we all enjoy very high load factors. The two companies are a prime example that companies operating on the same market section need not be competitors and rivals. We cooperate very well indeed with Aeroflot and believe such cooperation will result in some twenty odd flights per week in the very near future. Such good relations between the two companies and sound communication between the two managements have probably initiated Aeroflot's interest in the privatization of our company. We hope for still better cooperation in the coming period.

How would you assess the significance of the Russian market for Jat? What kind of an influence would, in your view, Russia have achieved on the European sky through partnership with Jat?

- The previous period shows just how great our interest in the Russian market is. Many of our people live there and their ties with their homeland are very strong and intensive. Also, there is an increasing influx of Russian businessmen and tourists. Let us hope that the announced full liberalization of the visa regime would yet further contribute to the rise in passenger numbers. As regards Aeroflot’s interest, this is a question for them, but we believe that Aeroflot is very much interested owing to the great expansion of the Balkan market and with a view to effecting better preparations for the "open skies" that lies before us...