Dacic: Enhancing cooperation between Serbia and U.S.
February 8, 2010
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic assessed visit to the United States, that he has just completed, as very successful and useful, during which he talked with U.S. officials about the joint fight against international terrorism and all forms of crime. Stating that it was noted in all the meetings that bilateral cooperation in the field of security is very good, Dacic stressed that they agreed upon a number of common actions in order to intensify cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, particularly illegal trade in narcotics. He specified that it involves the exchange of experiences and training of special units for various types of financial investigations and combating all forms of international crime. The Deputy Prime Minister said that it was also agreed that the American Secretary of Justice Eric Holder, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Muller and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will soon visit Serbia. The U.S. is our traditionally good political partner, said Dacic and stressed that the Serbian delegation’s visit is a significant step towards restoring and improving relations between the two countries after a period of conflicts in the previous decade.
Djukic-Dejanovic talked with Slovakian Premier Fico
February 8, 2010
Slovakian Premier Robert Fico stated in Bratislava that his country will not change its position on unilaterally declared Kosovo independence and that it supports a compromise-based solution to be found for the southern Serbian province at the negotiating table. In talks with Serbian Assembly Speaker Slavica Djukic- Dejanovic, Fico underlined that it is extremely important that Serbia and Slovakia keep supporting international law and Resolution 1244. The Slovakian Prime Minister stated that in regard to Serbia’s potential NATO membership, his country will not interfere in the decision-making process, since it is an entirely internal issue. Djukic- Dejanovic reiterated that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo and thanked Slovakia for the principled support in regard to this issue. She informed Fico on results in the process of Serbia’s accession with the EU and thanked Slovakia for its support to acceleration of the process.
Dodik: We will not hold a referendum on secession
February 8, 2010
The Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik reiterated in Banjaluka that the RS does not intend to hold a referendum on secession from Bosnia-Herzegovina, but on issues of constitutional jurisdiction of this entity. The RS primarily wants to arrange a referendum systemically, and the law, proposed to the Parliament, corresponds to the constitutional position of the RS and the best European practice, said Dodik. According to him, after the adoption of the law, a decision will be made on potential referendum and the referendum question. The RS Parliament will urgently discuss the proposed law on referendum and the citizen initiative tomorrow. The RS government has earlier established the bill, which defines the technical issues on holding the referendum, but not the referendum question.
Paska and Djukic-Dejanovic: Serbia on right path to EU
February 8, 2010
Serbian and Slovakian Assembly Speakers, Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and Pavol Paska, assessed in Bratislava that Serbia is on the right path to the EU and Paska reiterated that his country is ready to assist Belgrade in this process Serbia has tremendous support in Slovakia because of the many historical parallels and experiences that we want to exchange, said Paska. Djukic-Dejanovic thanked the host for the support of Slovakia regarding all key issues for Serbia, from the EU integration process to the issue of Kosovo. Slovakia is one of the few EU members that, despite the attitude of the majority, refuse in principle to recognize the unilateral independence of Kosovo, because they believe it is not in accordance with international law. Paska expressed gratitude for the care of Slovaks living in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and expressed hope that they will continue to have support of Serbia in maintaining their language and cultural identity.
Prison guard shot in Kosovska Mitrovica
February 8, 2010
The Directorate for Execution of Criminal Sanctions with the Serbian Justice Ministry expressed concern for the safety of employees in the correctional institution in Kosovska Mitrovica, stating that the guard S. Dj. was victim of an armed attack last week, and that the local judiciary forwarded the case to be handled in the regular procedure. On February 1, the guard, on his way home, was fired at several times and two small caliber shells were found at the place where the shots were fired. All this was reported to the Kosovo police, but, instead of being treated promptly, the case was forwarded to be handled in the regular procedure, the Directorate communicated.
Dinkic: By the end of February, a program for underdeveloped municipalities
February 8, 2010
Serbian Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic said that a program to launch production in underdeveloped areas should be prepared by the end of February and about 100 million Euros will be allocated for that. At a meeting held in the Palace of Serbia with leading businessmen in the country, Dinkic called on companies that have secured export markets to participate in the program and assist the development of underdeveloped areas. He explained that the program envisages allocation of long-term loans through the Development Fund, as well as the two sub-programs - one for companies working in the work-intensive sectors and another for threatened municipalities such as Kursumlija, Merosina and others.
Djelic: Conclusions of International Steering Group invalid
February 8, 2010
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that the conclusions of the International Steering Group on Kosovo will be invalid for Belgrade. Serbia does not recognize the group, it is illegal and any of its conclusions are invalid, explained Djelic. The Group has met today in Vienna at a closed meeting. This body was formed after the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence in 2008, and it encompasses representatives of countries that recognized Pristina's act of secession.
Djelic: no changes in municipal transfers
08 February 2010.
Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic has stated that in this year there will be no decrease in transfers from the Serbian Budget to local communities, but also that the municipal authorities must realize rationalization and decrease the number of their employees. At the conference entitled “Programming the international aid and EU funds in local development” Djelic said that the municipalities need be more active in trying to obtain finances from the European funds, in order to overcome the crisis more easily. He also said that so far 200 million euro has been allocated from the EU budget in order to support the developmental and infrastructure projects in Serbia, but the state currently has access to some 30% of the European funds. The reform of the financial system will enable Serbia to qualify by 2011 for all components of the European budget, pointed Djelic.
Meeting of International Governing Group began
08 February 2010.
The International Governing Group for Kosmet has commenced a meeting in Vienna, where they will discuss the mandate of Head of the International Civil Office Peter Feith, the TANJUG reports. Political directors of foreign ministers of 25 member-countries of the International Governing Group will have talks behind closed doors, regarding the extension of Feith’s mandate, based on the plan of Martti Ahtisaari, it has been communicated. It is expected that his responsibilities that were increased in the domains from Ahtisaari’s plan, might be decreased, in order to gradually pass the jurisdiction envisaged by that document to the Pristina authorities. The International Governing Group appointed Dutch diplomat Feith as their representative in the southern Serbian province on February 28, 2008.
IMF mission in Belgrade today
08 February 2010.
IMF mission has come to Belgrade on the occasion of the third revision of the crediting arrangement with Serbia. It has been confirmed that the talks between representatives of the Serbian Government and National Bank with IMF delegation will commence tomorrow and last until February 23. On May 15 IMF granted the credit of 2.9 billion euro to Serbia, for the strengthening of its foreign currency reserves. So far, two installments of that credit have been drawn, amounting to 1.12 billion. The drawing of the third installment of 350 million will depend on the new reports from the IMF mission, and the plan of the National Bank is to do it in May this year. The contract with IMF binds Serbia to decrease the expenses on the salaries of budget users, i.e. to have the wages and pensions frozen during 2010. The agreement also envisages laying off the surplus employees in the state administration and passing a new law on pension insurance. The Serbian Government will try to show during the talks that it is ready to meet its obligations undertaken when the contract was signed, especially relating to pensions, stated Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, while expressing hope that the negotiations will end successfully.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic assessed visit to the United States, that he has just completed, as very successful and useful, during which he talked with U.S. officials about the joint fight against international terrorism and all forms of crime. Stating that it was noted in all the meetings that bilateral cooperation in the field of security is very good, Dacic stressed that they agreed upon a number of common actions in order to intensify cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, particularly illegal trade in narcotics. He specified that it involves the exchange of experiences and training of special units for various types of financial investigations and combating all forms of international crime. The Deputy Prime Minister said that it was also agreed that the American Secretary of Justice Eric Holder, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Muller and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will soon visit Serbia. The U.S. is our traditionally good political partner, said Dacic and stressed that the Serbian delegation’s visit is a significant step towards restoring and improving relations between the two countries after a period of conflicts in the previous decade.
Slovakian Premier Robert Fico stated in Bratislava that his country will not change its position on unilaterally declared Kosovo independence and that it supports a compromise-based solution to be found for the southern Serbian province at the negotiating table. In talks with Serbian Assembly Speaker Slavica Djukic- Dejanovic, Fico underlined that it is extremely important that Serbia and Slovakia keep supporting international law and Resolution 1244. The Slovakian Prime Minister stated that in regard to Serbia’s potential NATO membership, his country will not interfere in the decision-making process, since it is an entirely internal issue. Djukic- Dejanovic reiterated that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo and thanked Slovakia for the principled support in regard to this issue. She informed Fico on results in the process of Serbia’s accession with the EU and thanked Slovakia for its support to acceleration of the process.
The Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik reiterated in Banjaluka that the RS does not intend to hold a referendum on secession from Bosnia-Herzegovina, but on issues of constitutional jurisdiction of this entity. The RS primarily wants to arrange a referendum systemically, and the law, proposed to the Parliament, corresponds to the constitutional position of the RS and the best European practice, said Dodik. According to him, after the adoption of the law, a decision will be made on potential referendum and the referendum question. The RS Parliament will urgently discuss the proposed law on referendum and the citizen initiative tomorrow. The RS government has earlier established the bill, which defines the technical issues on holding the referendum, but not the referendum question.
Serbian and Slovakian Assembly Speakers, Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and Pavol Paska, assessed in Bratislava that Serbia is on the right path to the EU and Paska reiterated that his country is ready to assist Belgrade in this process Serbia has tremendous support in Slovakia because of the many historical parallels and experiences that we want to exchange, said Paska. Djukic-Dejanovic thanked the host for the support of Slovakia regarding all key issues for Serbia, from the EU integration process to the issue of Kosovo. Slovakia is one of the few EU members that, despite the attitude of the majority, refuse in principle to recognize the unilateral independence of Kosovo, because they believe it is not in accordance with international law. Paska expressed gratitude for the care of Slovaks living in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and expressed hope that they will continue to have support of Serbia in maintaining their language and cultural identity.
The Directorate for Execution of Criminal Sanctions with the Serbian Justice Ministry expressed concern for the safety of employees in the correctional institution in Kosovska Mitrovica, stating that the guard S. Dj. was victim of an armed attack last week, and that the local judiciary forwarded the case to be handled in the regular procedure. On February 1, the guard, on his way home, was fired at several times and two small caliber shells were found at the place where the shots were fired. All this was reported to the Kosovo police, but, instead of being treated promptly, the case was forwarded to be handled in the regular procedure, the Directorate communicated.
Serbian Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic said that a program to launch production in underdeveloped areas should be prepared by the end of February and about 100 million Euros will be allocated for that. At a meeting held in the Palace of Serbia with leading businessmen in the country, Dinkic called on companies that have secured export markets to participate in the program and assist the development of underdeveloped areas. He explained that the program envisages allocation of long-term loans through the Development Fund, as well as the two sub-programs - one for companies working in the work-intensive sectors and another for threatened municipalities such as Kursumlija, Merosina and others.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that the conclusions of the International Steering Group on Kosovo will be invalid for Belgrade. Serbia does not recognize the group, it is illegal and any of its conclusions are invalid, explained Djelic. The Group has met today in Vienna at a closed meeting. This body was formed after the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence in 2008, and it encompasses representatives of countries that recognized Pristina's act of secession.
Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic has stated that in this year there will be no decrease in transfers from the Serbian Budget to local communities, but also that the municipal authorities must realize rationalization and decrease the number of their employees. At the conference entitled “Programming the international aid and EU funds in local development” Djelic said that the municipalities need be more active in trying to obtain finances from the European funds, in order to overcome the crisis more easily. He also said that so far 200 million euro has been allocated from the EU budget in order to support the developmental and infrastructure projects in Serbia, but the state currently has access to some 30% of the European funds. The reform of the financial system will enable Serbia to qualify by 2011 for all components of the European budget, pointed Djelic. 
The International Governing Group for Kosmet has commenced a meeting in Vienna, where they will discuss the mandate of Head of the International Civil Office Peter Feith, the TANJUG reports. Political directors of foreign ministers of 25 member-countries of the International Governing Group will have talks behind closed doors, regarding the extension of Feith’s mandate, based on the plan of Martti Ahtisaari, it has been communicated. It is expected that his responsibilities that were increased in the domains from Ahtisaari’s plan, might be decreased, in order to gradually pass the jurisdiction envisaged by that document to the Pristina authorities. The International Governing Group appointed Dutch diplomat Feith as their representative in the southern Serbian province on February 28, 2008. 
IMF mission has come to Belgrade on the occasion of the third revision of the crediting arrangement with Serbia. It has been confirmed that the talks between representatives of the Serbian Government and National Bank with IMF delegation will commence tomorrow and last until February 23. On May 15 IMF granted the credit of 2.9 billion euro to Serbia, for the strengthening of its foreign currency reserves. So far, two installments of that credit have been drawn, amounting to 1.12 billion. The drawing of the third installment of 350 million will depend on the new reports from the IMF mission, and the plan of the National Bank is to do it in May this year. The contract with IMF binds Serbia to decrease the expenses on the salaries of budget users, i.e. to have the wages and pensions frozen during 2010. The agreement also envisages laying off the surplus employees in the state administration and passing a new law on pension insurance. The Serbian Government will try to show during the talks that it is ready to meet its obligations undertaken when the contract was signed, especially relating to pensions, stated Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, while expressing hope that the negotiations will end successfully. 
