Serbia Today Politics

Serbia and UN cooperation

2010-07-03T02:02:00.001-07:00

Belgrade June 28. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Serbia and UN recently signed a new five year partnership document. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić and UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia William Infante put their signatures on the document. The Serbian foreign minister said that the new strategy between Serbia and the UN marks a new era in the cooperation between Serbia and the UN. The strategy involves USD 250mn of investments in projects between 2011 and 2015, which will be designed by the government and other partners, the Foreign Ministry has announced. The five-year strategy will support Serbia's efforts in European integration. It focuses on three areas: responsible government, sustainable development and social inclusion and finally regional stability and cooperation. The document was created in agreement with Serbian ministries and government agencies, civil society representatives and other partners. All of the projects within the new strategy are based on five general principles that define the UN global interest: gender equality and suppression of gender discrimination, environmental sustainability, human rights protection, development and government based on results, all of which are part of the UN Millenium Development Goals. The UN is proud that Serbia sees it as a reliable partner, said Infante. According to him, the strategy will rely on the experience and expertise of more than 24 resident and non-resident agencies that will provide counselling, achieve concrete results and strengthen Serbia's leadership position in the region

Tadic: EU, do you really want to accept all Balkan countries?

2010-07-01T03:42:00.000-07:00

Belgrade June 26. 2010. (Serbia Today) EU has to be honest and say if it wants to accept all countries of the Balkan”, Serbian president Boris Tadic said addressing to recently held summit of heads of state and governments of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) During the conference in Istanbul Tadic also highlighted the union should reveal if is prepared to work with Balkan countries in a very practical way to ensure the existing criteria is fulfilled. "We all have our constraints, but we deal with them. We do not just let them be used as pretexts for doing nothing. Thus, Serbia expects that positive atmosphere and messages from recently held meeting in Sarajevo between EU and Western Balkans will be translated into action," Tadić said. Speaking about the importance of regional cooperation, Tadić pointed out that it has to be focused on fight against organized crime, the transnational networks of which pose the most direct danger to the region's prosperity. "Serbia has declared total war on organized crime and it will spare no effort in its mission to eradicate this threat. Serbia's zero-tolerance policy means no one-absolutely no one-will be permitted to stand beyond the reach of the law. Our police and judiciary institutions will continue their relentless pursuit of crime bosses and their collaborators," Tadić pointed out. Once again Tadic pointed out that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo independence.

Deputy PM Djelic in four-day visit to U.S.

2010-07-01T03:38:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 26. (Serbia Today) - On Monday Deputy PM and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic started a four-day official visit to the United States. Djelic will meet with heads of multinational companies like “Hewlett Packard, Intel, Altera, Cisco Systems, Oracle and Nokia.” According to the announcement from the Serbian ministry for Science and Technological Development the aim of these meeting will be to launch “concrete projects that will be implemented within the framework of the recently signed Agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between Serbia and the U.S.”

Brammertc: We act as Mladic is still alive

2010-06-30T02:16:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June , 25. 2010. (Serbia Today) - The chief prosecutor of the tribunal in The Hague, Serge Brammertz (Serge Brammertz) said that the court, and the Serbian authorities act under the assumption that the Hague fugitive Ratko Mladic is still alive. Brammertz said that at a press conference after the regular semi-annual reports of UN Security Council, responding to a journalist's question whether the court is against Mladic's family decision to declare dead of the Hague fugitive. He said that the Hague Tribunal "is the assumption that the Mladic is still alive" and that the competent authorities in Serbia have the knowledge that he is still hiding. The prosecutor reiterated that the arrest of fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, remain the highest priority to the prosecution. "The message is clear, there is no alternative to arrest Mladic", he said. Brammertz announced that in the past six months, the Serbian authorities continued with the operational activities for the arrest of Mladic and Hadzic, but there is still not enough real results and that is why Belgrade should re-evaluate the current way of searching, expand the investigation and intensify efforts to find and arrest. Mladic. Lawyers of Ratko Mladic family handed over on June 16 in the First Instance Court in Belgrade, the proposal to declare that dead of the Hague fugitive.

Council of Europe recognize resolution 1244

2010-06-29T04:04:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 24. 2010. (Serbia Today) Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg adopted a resolution on Kosovo status, which emphasizes neutrality of the oldest European organization considering Kosovo status. Also resolution highlight the need of strong commitment to overcome problems in the field of rule of law, democracy and respect for human and minority rights. The resolution implement the neutral policy of Council of Europe towards Kosovo status and further recognizes the validity of Security Council Resolution 1244. 33 members of the European organization recognized the Kosovo independence.

United regions victory in the Bor local elections

2010-06-28T01:41:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 23. 2010. (Serbia Today) The United Regions of Serbia (URS) coalition and the Socialist Democratic party of Serbia (SDPS) won the most votes in the local elections in Bor. Leader of the United regions of Serbia is G17 plus president and economy minister Mladjan Dinkic while lieder of SDP is labor minister Rasim Ljajic. Election monitors CeSID. According to CeSID's (election monitor) preliminary results, based on 80 percent of the votes, URS won 25.15 percent of the vote in the eastern Serbian municipality. According to the organization's Regional Coordinator for eastern Serbia, Radomir Milošević, the Change for Bor Group led by SNS and NS, finished second with 18.7 percent. The Democratic Party (DS) led “For a European Bor” finished third with 17 percent of the vote, while the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition finished fourth with 11.8 percent of the vote. LDP also passed the 5-percent threshold with 6.57 percent, as did DSS with 5.48 percent. The Serb Radical Party (SRS) did not pass the census, with only 4.8 percent of the vote. Milošević said that the elections would be repeated in seven days at one polling station where irregularities were noticed. SPS official in Bor Branko Ružić said that the elections results are “proof of the vitality and continuity of excellent results in all parts of Serbia” for the coalition. G17 Plus deputy leader Vladimir Ilić said that the parties of the state government would be in power in Bor as well. Ilić said that it made sense for the local government to be formed through a coalition with the municipal presidency going to a member of the URS. “This is the first time since the URS was founded that it has participated in an election,” Ilić said. The final results are expected to be known by June 23. According to initial statistics, 43 percent of registered voters in Bor participated in the elections.

New political battle for Kosovo?

2010-06-26T03:23:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, June, 22. 2010. (Serbia Today) - New political battle will ensue after the International Court of Justice gives its opinion on Kosovo’s independence, writes Priština daily Express. The daily writes that this will have consequences for both Belgrade and Priština. “Both sides will try to interpret the opinion to their advantage, and the winner will be the side that shows greater political power,” unnamed sources from Kosovo institutions told the daily. They also said that “partner countries” of Belgrade and Priština would also be involved in the process. Priština is announcing new recognitions after the ICJ’s decision is given and expects help in that process from countries that have recognized Kosovo’s independence. “One step which will be taken by the Kosovo institutions is that they will send demands for recognition to countries that have yet to do so. Along with the demands, they will be sending their interpretation of the court’s decision,” the source said. The daily states that experts of the International Crisis Group (ICG) believe that Priština and Belgrade will “begin talks from different positions” after the court decision. “Serbia will have to treat Kosovo as an equal side. Belgrade will try to talk about the possibility of discussing Kosovo’s status, while Priština will insist on talks that only include technical questions,” ICG analyst in Kosovo Naim Rashiti said. He said that Priština and Belgrade would not talk only about technical questions, because there is a possibility that there will be talks about some parts of the Ahtisaari proposal for Kosovo’s status. The ICJ’s opinion is expected unofficially some time in July.

Nato ministers discuss reduction of KFOR numbers

2010-06-25T02:33:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 21. 2010. (Serbia Today) NATO defense ministers met recently in Brussels to, among other issues, consider a possibility of further cutting KFOR numbers in Kosovo. The ministers concluded that additional political and military assessments of the security situation in Kosovo were needed before a decision is made on the reduction of the number of KFOR troops to 5,000 and on shifting the mission into a "deterrent phase.” The defense ministers of NATO and other countries whose troops are part of the NATO-led peacekeeping force in the province said that “despite the occasional security incidents in Kosovo, general developments are still moving in the right direction, toward greater security and stability, as well as stronger local institutions.” This was stated by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who said that the ministers had not yet developed an exact program of reducing and transforming KFOR into a deterrent mission, although this is the aim that will be gradually achieved. Rasmussen was asked at a news conference to say whether the KFOR mission would be downsized regardless of the recent clashes between ethnic Albanians and Serbs on the bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica and of other incidents. "We occasionally witness some incidents, as was the case a couple of weeks ago, but I believe", Rasmussen said, "that the general development is clear - an improvement of the security situation." "And this will allow for a gradual reduction of our military presence (in Kosovo)," Rasmussen explained.

Tadic: Serbia strongly against corruption

2010-06-25T02:30:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 19. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Serbia remains absolutely committed to fighting corruption and organized crime, says President Boris Tadić. He spoke in Belgrade at the recent opening of a round table dedicated to the fight against corruption and organized crime in southeastern Europe. Someone's political affiliation, family ties or role in the society will not provide them with protection, Tadić was quoted as saying. “As you can see, nobody's protected in Serbia, people who are in a way national icons and represent living monuments in the society are not protected,” he said, adding that “everyone's entitled to a fair trial”. According to Tadić, Serbia remains committed to EU integrations and wishes to contribute to the regional stability, and that in all of Europe, “and for that reason Serbia remains a partner to the Western Balkans and all European countries in the fight against organized crime and corruption”. Justice Minister Snežana Malović echoed the president's statements, adding that the success of that fight will depend on a “change of mentality of the citizens”, and on establishment of a “new system of values”. As for the state's role, the minister believes that it will “implement laws consistently” and in this way secure efficient prosecution of corrupt individuals and breaking up of financial channels used by crime groups. “This applies to all who have illegally acquired their economic power no matter what their social status is, and who use that power to corrupt state officials, buy media outlets and manage financial institutions,” said Malović.

3 EU states against Serbian candidature

2010-06-24T01:59:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, June 18. 2010. (Serbia Today) - 24 EU member-states support the forwarding of Serbia’s candidate application the European Commission, writes Belgrade daily “Vecernje novosti”. As Večernje Novosti reported, Belgium, Holland and Germany were against it. At the EU Ministerial meeting held on June 14, discussions regarding the issue were longer than expected, and as a result, the working lunch between the Ministers and Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz also lasted longer, says the article. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, who is sees as the main proponent of the hard-line position, did not back down at the meeting, while Italy's Franco Frattini was “as usual” on Serbia’s side, writes the daily. The EU meeting in Luxembourg decided that the Stabilization and Association agreement between Belgrade and Brussels, signed two years ago and suspended, can be ratified in EU member-states' parliaments, but a decision on Serbia's EU candidate status bid was postponed. “Serbia needs to be even closer to the EU, in every aspect. The Italian proposal is that Serbia needs to receive the ratification and have its (candidate) application forwarded to the Commission. We will continue to try to convince all those who are indecisive about moving ahead with this,” Frattini was quoted as saying. He added that the candidacy question should be discussed at the next EU ministerial meeting in July, and also said he expected the SAA ratification process to be swift, even though it has been known to last over a period of several years. “I believe that all the countries of the EU will ratify the SAA with Serbia by the end of the year,” Frattini said. Several countries announced that their parliaments would be urged to put the issue on their agendas immediately, while Holland will continue to insist on further extraditions of fugitive war criminals to the Hague Tribunal before doing so.

Serbian officials: EU decision is big step for Serbia

2010-06-23T03:11:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, June 17. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Deputy PM Božidar Đelić claims that the EU decision to ratify the SAA with Serbia was a “big step and an important moment for the country”. According to Đelić, Serbia has “thus become an EU associate member”. "Parliaments of all EU member states will ratify the agreement and thus show the investors in their respective countries that Serbia is a secure place and that it is possible to do business with us, which will increase the number of investors and jobs in our country," Đelić said. He pointed out that, even though it was not expected, the European ministers added an official conclusion regarding Serbia's candidacy. "First of all, they welcomed the candidacy, second of all they greeted Serbia's efforts within the EU integration and third, they decided to return to the issue of candidacy very soon. This means that already in the fall Serbia may make its second big step towards Europe, that is the European Commission may be given the green light to consider our candidacy," Đelić said. "In that case, Serbia's goal to become a EU candidate country by mid 2011 would become a reality," he stressed. The Council concluded that Serbia has submitted the request for EU membership on December 22, 2009, and greeted the country's commitment to EU integration, whereas Serbia's request for acquiring candidate status will be considered subsequently. The Stabilization and Association Agreement between Belgrade and Brussels was signed in late April 2008, but was immediately suspended pending Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković voiced the expectation that Serbia would gain European Union candidate member status in 2011. Cvetković said the process of ratifying the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and the EU could last one to two years, as parliaments of the 27 members of the bloc would have to confirm the deal.

EU citizens can come to Serbia without passports

2010-06-22T03:29:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 16. 2010. (Serbia Today) Citizens of EU member-states, as well as from Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, can enter Serbia as of Saturday with only their personal identification cards. The Serbian government passed a decision on May 28 regarding countries whose citizens can cross the border into Serbia without a passport, as long as they have a valid identification card. The officilas of Interior Ministry said to the Tanjug news agency that the border patrols are organizationally and technically equipped to perform such border controls. Citizens of these countries that enter Serbia without a passport will be able to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days.

Parliament works for BIA and not for citizens

2010-06-21T01:53:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 15. 2010 (Source : B92) - The ruling coalition in Serbia has no intention of forcing security services to obtain court permission if they want to follow who, with whom, for how long and when is communicating by phone or via Internet. It is obvious that the amendment to the law on electronic communications suggested by Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic for protection of privacy of communications is not going to be accepted by the Parliament. As one of the reasons for refusal of the Ombudsman’s proposal mentioned by the whip of the ‘For European Serbia’ caucus Nada Kolundzija is that the amendment has not been filed ‘in line with the parliamentary procedure’. Jankovic denied that claim at his site and presented electronic copy of the document forwarded to Serbian Parliament. On the other hand the ruling coalition has accepted amendment to article 130 which includes supervision by the Secretary for information of public importance. If we are talking about possible abuse of authority that security services have, then we think a debate should be opened over that topic and see if laws defining that sphere should be changed. This is a basic law in the field of telecommunications and it cannot define segments such as judicial system and security services. If somebody thinks that this is not in line with the Constitution, then opinion by the Constitutional Court of Serbia can be requested. If that court rules otherwise, that decision has to be respected. We think it is not in contradiction with the Constitution’, Kolundzija said

Deputy PM Božidar Đelić says he expects Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's report to be sufficient for EU countries to ratify the SAA.

2010-06-18T03:05:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, June, 12. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Serbia and the EU signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in the spring of 2008, but its ratification was immediately blocked, with the Netherlands demanding Belgrade's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Đelić, who is to head a state delegation in Luxembourg on June 14, said that there will be communication with Brammertz, who will also be present, and that a decision to start the ratification process would be an important step forward in Serbia's European integration. "Yesterday we had a meeting with the political director of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and what we heard is an indication of a positive outcome, but he said that there will be additional consultation between the Dutch parliament and the Dutch government this week", Đelić told state broadcaster RTS. Asked whether anything could change after today's parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, Đelić said that in terms of ratification the position will not change, but the fact that there are elections in the Netherlands and Belgium is an aggravating circumstance for the expected second step, which is "forwarding of the nomination to the European Commission for consideration.” Asked whether he expected negative reactions of the EU member states that have recognized Kosovo, Đelić said that “Serbia does have only friends in Europe, it is up to our country to fight, to enter into an alliance and to do what is in the interest of its citizens.” “Full-fledged EU membership is in the interest of Serbia, but not at any cost. Kosovo is an inseparable part of Serbia, and we as a country respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which has arranged issue in southern Serbia is a specific manner", concluded Đelić.

Jeremic: Possibility for historic compromise

2010-06-15T02:42:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June 11, 2010. (Serbia Today) - Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic said that the possibility for a historic compromise to be reached between Serbs and ethnic Albanians will increase after the decision of International Court of Justice (ICJ). Jeremić specified that this would happen once the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reports back to the UN General Assembly regarding the legality under international law of the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence. The proclamation was made two years ago, and was rejected by Belgrade. Now, speaking in Lima, Peru, Jeremić stated that Serbia was ready to engage in dialog. “My country is ready to engage in a good-faith dialog that produces a solution to the Kosovo problem acceptable to all parties. Serbia will be constructive in the talks to come, for a solution needs to be found, requiring flexibility on all sides.” At the 40th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Lima, Jeremić underlined that Serbia “will never accept an imposed outcome that aims to unilaterally terminate our sovereign rights in Kosovo”, adding that “this is neither just nor legitimate, or sustainable.” Jeremić underscored that the consequences of a positive outcome would not only be felt in our corner of Europe, adding that they would provide a critical boost to all who are committed to consolidate a rules-based international order for the 21st century-“one in which unilateralism is clearly seen as a threat to stability, and one in which reaching agreement is an essential element in enhancing the security of the world.”

SAA ratification, if Brammertz’s report is positive

2010-06-15T02:39:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June, 11. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Director of the Dutch Foreign Ministry Department for South East and East Europe Caspar Veldkamp said in Belgrade on Monday that Holland could give its consent for the EU Council of Ministers to commence the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) if Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz gives a positive report on Serbia's cooperation with the war crimes court. According to a statement issued by the Serbian parliament, Veldkamp conferred with Serbia's President of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs Dragoljub Micunovic. He reiterated Holland's stance that the apprehension of the remaining Hague indictees is important for Serbia's EU path and relations between the two countries. The delegation from Holland, which included Dutch Ambassador to Serbia, Ron van Dartel, noted that Serbia is a leading country of the Western Balkans and that there can be no full integration of the region into the EU without it, adding that Serbia needs to meet all the criteria and conditions on its EU path. Serbia's “recognition of Kosovo” is not a condition to its EU accession, but “development of good neighborly relations”, said the statement.

Debate started in Parliament, opposition says Soskic might not be preferred NBS candidate

2010-06-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

Belgrade June, 10, 2010 (Serbia Today) - Serbian Parliament opened on Monday in an extraordinary session to debate amendments to the Law on the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), which will be applied in the selection of Governor. New Serbia party Director Borislav Borovic, however said that Dejan Soskic might not be the preferred choice. He noted that Soskic prefers a flexible exchange rate of the domestic currency, which could “disqualify him as a desired candidate for this position.” Borovic also said that “the Serbian government intends to defend the exchange rate at all costs by pumping euros into the Serbian foreign currency reserve, which was a strategy agreed on in the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.” “That is why the speculations are real that the NBS governor would be someone who is closer to that concept”, he said,

Brammertz: Serbia to alter the strategy in search for Hague fugitives

2010-06-12T04:02:00.001-07:00

Belgrade June, 09, 2010. (Serbia Today) - Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will propose in his report on Serbia’s cooperation that Belgrade alter its strategy in the search for Hague fugitives, reported Serbian television B92. Brammertz has already submitted his report to ABOU Serbian in cooperation with the Tribunal to United Nations diplomats. At the same time Daily Politika writes that Holland will support the ratification of the SAA with Belgrade if Serge Brammertz’s cooperation report is positive. As Serbian media reported, Brammertz will reiterate that Serbia’s efforts in trying to locate the remaining fugitives are continuing, but that there should be a change in strategy in the search for Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić. According to the document, which B92 has seen, Brammertz will recommend that Belgrade spread its search into different directions instead of focusing their work on individual investigations. Brammertz will also state that there is no proof to justify the belief that Mladić is not in Serbia. Brammertz will commend the cooperation of the National Council for Hague Cooperation which has met all of the Hague Prosecution’s demands regarding the exchange of documents. He also is expected to praise the fact that 3,000 pages of Mladić’s diary were handed over to the Hague office, adding that the information contained in these pages is of great importance to a number of trials. Brammertz will be reporting to the UN Security Council and EU ministers on Serbia's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal some time in June Daily Politika has learned from inside the cabinet of Holland’s foreign minister that the parliamentary elections in the country on June 9 will not be an obstacle in supporting the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU. “If you are asking what will happen if Brammertz is content with cooperation, then it is possible that Holland’s answer will be positive”, a source from Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen’s cabinet Gijs Korevaar told the daily. “If Brammertz is satisfied as he was when he wrote the positive report in December, we will not reject the start of ratification”, he said. Hague Chief Prosecutor Brammertz will give his next report to the UN Security Council on June 18, when EU foreign ministers will meet for the last time under the Spanish presidency. Belgium will assume the EU presidency on July 1

State Secretary: There will be new Kosovo status talks

2010-06-11T03:14:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June, 08. 2010 (Serbia Today) -Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic has said on Friday that there will “certainly be new negotiations about the status of Kosovo.” Such negotiations are necessary and they are always better than conflict, he added, and warned of the danger of high tension and conflict in case there were no talks. “It is very important that both sides realize the need for the talks and a reasonable solution” said Ivanovic and pointed out that the world is slowly realizing the correlation between Kosovo’s status and stability in the Balkans. “That’s why the position that new talks and finding of a sustainable solution are necessary is increasingly maturing. And it will be sustainable only if supported by Serbia”, he emphasized. According to the state secretary, it is imperative to secure a ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which favors the Serbian position.

National Council: Serbia cooperates with the Hague Tribunal

2010-06-10T02:46:00.000-07:00

Beograd, June, 07. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Serbia has answered all 1,886 requests filed by the Hague tribunal prosecutor, which referred to documentation, access to state archives, allowing witnesses to disclose confidential information and other issues that are the responsibility of the council, announced The Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. The Council also concluded that Serbia's responsibilities have been carried out in a routine and problem-free manner. The council concluded that this applies "both to the cooperation with the office of the Hague prosecutor and the indictees' defense teams.” The council feels that these results were achieved because of the established mutual trust between the council on one side and the office of the Hague Prosecutor and indictees' defense teams on the other. With that in mind, the council concluded it necessary to maintain the existing level of cooperation through joint efforts with other government institutions

PABSEC assembly session begins in Belgrade

2010-06-10T02:44:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June, 07. 2010 (Serbia Today) – The 35th plenary session of the General Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) started at the Serbian parliament on Wednesday. Opening the session, chaired by Serbia, in the first half of 2010, the Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic said that, given the fact that the EU is one of the priorities of Serbian foreign policy, the Serbian delegation strongly supported the deepening of cooperation with European Parliament, strengthening regional cooperation and the place of PABSEC on the international scene. She said that "in the times of crisis facing the whole international community, it is necessary to unite efforts to overcome the crisis and the (inter-parliamentary) cooperation is one way of initiating important

President Tadic on three-day visit to Greece

2010-06-09T03:58:00.001-07:00

Belgrade/Athens, June, 04. 2010 (Serbia Today) – On Tuesday Serbian President Boris Tadic started a three-day official visit to Greece, during which he met with Greek President Karolos Papoulias. Tadic said that Serbia will continue to implement a peace-keeping policy in the Balkans, and thus manifest its support to peace and the European future of the whole region. "However, there is no condition under which Serbia would recognize the independence of Kosovo and we are ready to resume talks on a compromised and mutually acceptable solution for the future status of Kosovo and Metohija after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague passes its ruling", Tadic said. The Greek president pointed out that Athens will continue to offer strong support to Serbia's EU aspirations. Serbia should become a member of the European family in the shortest possible time since that is the country's rightful place, Papoulias stated. Papoulias underlined that regarding the future status of Kosovo and Metohija, Greece will continue to support the search for a solution based on international law and Serbia's territorial integrity. The two presidents discussed the economic crisis that has hit Greece, and Tadic expressed Serbia's solidarity to the Greek people.

Tadic: Reconciliation is absolute imperative in the region

2010-06-09T03:56:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June, 04. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Serbian President Boris Tadić said that an absolute imperative in the Balkan region is reconciliation. He added that the declaration condemning crimes committed in Srebrenica (Adopted by Serbian parliament in March) was an indicator of an absolute dedication of Serbia country to a restoration of trust and good neighborly relations. “Reconciliation is to us a moral imperative, and in order for that to happen the truth has to be told without embellishing it. It has to be based on facts, truth about bloodshed that must never happen again in this region”, Tadić said in a statement published by Večernje Novosti today. He underscored that Serbia also comprehends reconciliation as condemnation and distancing from crimes committed by individuals, who had falsely claimed that they act on our national behalf, and from the policy that supported violence and hatred. Tadić pointed out that by assuming the initiative in the process of regional reconciliation, Serbia had opened doors to the others, strongly believing that together they can build a safe and prosperous future for all citizens on their common path to the European Union. According to his evaluation, Serbia demonstrated courage and historic maturity by adopting the resolution condemning the crime committed in Srebrenica. “But, during the civil wars in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, all conflicting sides committed atrocious crimes, which is why we hope that the parliaments of other countries in the region will have the strength to face the truth and condemn the crimes committed against all innocent victims”, said Tadić.

Environment minister: Serbia will recycle waste generated

2010-06-08T03:04:00.001-07:00

Belgrade/Nis, June, 03, 2010 (Serbia Today) – Environment Minister Oliver Dulic said on Monday that Serbia in the next few years will be recycling almost its entire waste on its own territory. "We are entering the packaging waste management model that will lead to that in the near future, every city will have separate containers for separation of waste. Our citizens will be able, while generating anything as household packaging waste, to inject into separate containers, which will be separating in recycling yards on the specific raw materials and than directing to the recycling industry", explained Dulic. Minister said that the aim in the next few years is for Serbia to employ 10,000 people in recycling industry. "Our goal is to open up new jobs, as well as an entirely new industry that almost doesn’t exist today in Serbia", he said. Minister of the Environment has opened the first International Fair of ecology, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources at Hall Cair in Nis.

Tension on Kosovo

2010-06-07T02:50:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June, 02. 2010 (Serbia Today) While Serbs were voting on Sundays (May 30) in local elections in Kosovska Mitrovica and Novo Brdo, stones were being thrown across the bridge that separates northern and southern Kosovska Mitrovica. Acording to media reports KPS, KFOR and EULEX forces in the region stopped the conflicts between Serbs and Albanians from escalating. The conflict began on the main bridge across the Ibar River, where EULEX police were stationed. Two persons suffered light injuries, said reports from the ethnically divided town. Before the incidents occurred, there were some 2,000 ethnic Albanians protesting the Serb elections in the north on the southern side of the bridge, calling for a “defense of Kosovo’s sovereignty.” The Albanians later moved towards the bridge, where local Serbs were gathering. Stones and rocks started flying from each side shortly after. Serbs were voting today in local election in Kosovska Mitrovica and Novo Brdo. Protests by former so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, members and the Movement for Unity were being held in the southern part of Mitrovica against the elections, which were organized by the government in Belgrade. There were 13 lists participating in Mitrovica and four in Novo Brdo. In central Serbia, displaced persons in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kraljevo, Kragujevac and Niš were able to vote as well. The Serbian government dissolved the local governments in Kosovska Mitrovica and Novo Brdo on December 24, 2009, and established a temporary administration in the municipalities. President of the Serbian State Election Commission Veljko Odalović said that the protests today aimed to put pressure on the voters and international community in order to stop the voting. Southern Kosovska Mitrovica Municipal President Avdi Kastrati said that the elections in the northern part of the city were "illegal.” He said that the residents of the northern part of the city need to "turn towards the future and prepare for the elections that would be organized by the Kosovo leadership in September.” The NATO peacekeeping mission KFOR has stated that it would offer protection for all participants in peaceful protests.

Tension on Kosovo

2010-06-07T02:49:00.001-07:00

Serbia, Egypt sign agreement on air traffic

2010-06-07T02:47:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, June, 02. 2010 (Serbia Today) – The governments of Serbia and Egypt signed in Belgrade on Friday a new agreement on air traffic cooperation. This is a bilateral agreement that defines commercial relations between air transporters, selection of airline companies, their nomination, security area, harmonization with world standards, and other issues. The agreement was signed as part of a two-day meeting of the mixed Serbian-Egyptian committee held in Belgrade on Friday after 23 years and aimed at promoting the Serbia-Egypt economic cooperation. The document was signed by Serbian Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjic and visiting Egyptian Minister for International Cooperation Fayza Abul-Naga. Deputy Chairman of the mixed Serbian-Egyptian committee for economic cooperation Abul-Naga pointed out in the talks with Mrkonjic in the Serbian parliament that the cooperation between Serbia and Egypt has great potential in the domain of civil engineering, adding that the Serbian construction companies can take part in the infrastructure projects in Egypt and the entire African continent.

Defense minister Sutanovac on “historic agreement”

2010-06-05T02:56:00.001-07:00

Belgrade/Zagreb, June, 01. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac has stated in Zagreb that a "historic agreement" will be signed in June between Serbian and Croatian militaries. The deal would put behind "the dark past" and should serve as a lesson on how to cooperate in the future, he was quoted as saying in a statement for Belgrade-based weekly NIN. "After all the wars, the Serbian and Croatian armies will bilaterally meet for the first time in order to sign an agreement on cooperation in the area of defense. This is a historic agreement", Sutanovac said. He said that Croatia is the last country in the region with which Serbia is signing such an agreement, adding that “Croatia still has certain traumas from the 1990's which are even bigger than Serbia's traumas.” When asked what exactly will be signed and what type of cooperation the agreement envisages, Sutanovac answered that it includes "the possibility of joint exercise, training, education, exchange of experience .

“Cooperation with Croatian army necessary”

2010-06-03T02:29:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, May 31. 2010 (Serbia Today) - EULEX announced that unapproved visits from officials and politicians” from central Serbia will “no longer be allowed. Serbian minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović reacting to the new accused the EU mission in the province, EULEX, of taking the side of Kosovo Albanians. “If they do not have authorization, the delegations will not be allowed to continue their trips,” said spokesperson for the EU mission in Kosovo Karin Limdal for Albanian language daily Koha Ditore. “Taking into consideration the unauthorized visits of Serbian officials to Kosovo, in close cooperation with Brussels and the EU, EULEX has issued a decree for Kosovo police to control Serbian delegations to see whether they are authorized to visit Kosovo or not”, she was quoted as saying. The mission has handed out a set of rules to Kosovo police, KPS, on procedures, and has also given these guidelines to police in the Serb-dominated northern Kosovska Mitrovica, said reports. The rules state that the obligation of the police is to check every vehicle with Serbian officials to see if they have been authorized to visit Kosovo. The Priština newspaper writes that a “record number of Serbian officials” visited Kosovska Mitrovica on Tuesday, in preparation for the coming local elections, adding that the officials “promised that Kosovo would remain an inseparable part of Serbia”. EULEX has already announced that it would not “recognize” the early local elections due to be held in Serb municipalities in the north. "Clearly, with this move EULEX has taken the side of Priština, assuming the role of the secessionists' advocate, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244,” said Serbian minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović stated. “Our patience and our demonstrated constructive approach have their limits”, the minister warned in a statement carried by Beta news agency. Bogdanović added that EULEX's decision meant that it also violated the neutrality which is spelt out in its mandate. The minister noted that this decision came after a recent statement by EU envoy for northern Kosovo Michael Giffoni, who was quoted as saying that the status of Kosovo was a “closed issue as far as the Union was concerned.” “I demand that EULEX urgently reverse this decision, because otherwise, as I have stated, our cooperation and relations will be seriously brought into question. This decision was clearly deliberately timed ahead of the (local) elections in (northern Kosovska) Mitrovica, to in this way join in Priština's provocations,” said the minister. Bogdanović added that the early local elections in the Serb-dominated municipality would be held regardless of provocations, and that they would serve to “confirm the credibility of the state of Serbia, strengthen her institutions and presence in the Province, and especially in its northern part”. “I would like to stress that this morning I traveled from Belgrade with no problems to the northern part of the Province, where I am right now. How will anyone prohibit me, born and living in Kosovo and Metohija, or any other politician from the Province, from going to our own homes,” Bogdanović said in his statement.

EULEX: No more unapproved visits by Serbian officials

2010-06-03T02:27:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 31. 2010 (Source: B92) - Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac announced that Serbia and Croatia will sign a defense cooperation agreement in June. He said that the signing of agreements between the ministries of the two countries should lead to a road of final reconciliation. Šutanovac said that the best path to reconciliation is through united exercises, both in Serbia and outside the country’s borders. “Even though our past is burdened with many victims, we want to show that the two armies are not enemy armies and that they can contribute not only to regional, but also global security,” he told daily Politika. “Every agreement on cooperation leads to the solving of problems, and every criticism of such an agreement is a lack of understanding for problems that can be solved through dialogue. I am aware that that the past is still burdening relations between the two countries today, but I am convinced that this agreement will contribute to the stabilization and quicker solving of problems which are not related solely to defense issues,” Šutanovac said. He said that the Defense Ministry has agreements signed with all regional countries, adding that threats of terrorism and organized crime do not choose what country, border or ethnicity they affect. “If we do not increase security cooperation on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, either through police, army, or information agency cooperation, every country will be just as endangered, no matter how much it isolates itself and does not wants to cooperate,” he said.

President Tadic encourages “economic patriotism”

2010-06-01T03:13:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 26. 2010 (Serbia Today) - President Boris Tadic called on Serbian businesspeople to show “economic patriotism” in these difficult times of economic crisis. He said on Sunday that there is no problem with businesspeople who are going “off shore” to register their companies in countries other than Serbia, when it is in accordance with the law. “Every country is doing everything it can to attract serious businesspeople to work in their country, to pay taxes and contributions to that country”, Tadic said. He said that businesspeople are facing temptation and want to ask the state for aid, but added that the state actually needs help from them. Tadic said that businesspeople need to pay taxes to their country, just like all other people. “This is a time when we expect some type of economic patriotism,” he said, adding that it is absolutely unacceptable for companies to be sold as “off shore” companies and to give the money from the sale and taxes to another country. He said that this question should be regulated by law, in accordance with business practices.

Miletic: Kosovo biggest security problem for Serbia

2010-05-31T02:01:00.000-07:00

Beograd, May 25. 2010. (Serbia Today) - The territory of Kosovo and Metohija is a stronghold of organized crime and it is currently the biggest security challenge for Serbia, said Chief Of General Staff of the Serbian Army Miloje Miletić. “The unilaterally declared independence by Kosovo poses the biggest threat and safety problem to Serbia”, Miletic said for Belgrade daily ‘Vecernje novosti’. Asked whether he expects a new wave of violence in Kosovo after a decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), he replied that a "violent threat is an already tried and used method of Kosovo Albanians use to impose pressure on the international community.” "If the court decision is not in keeping with their interests, which I sincerely hope it won't be, destabilization and violence are possible. I have received assurances by the KFOR commander that their troops will prevent any such event," said Miletić. Underscoring that "according to the experience so far, any instability in Kosovo and Metohija directly jeopardizes security in the region as a whole, particularly in the south region of central Serbia,” he added that the Serbian Army "is ready to respond to such a scenario and has enough capacity to secure peace in the area.” Miletić also said that there was need to hold high-level meetings with KFOR and those meetings will become more frequent in the future. In regards to the army reform, Miletić underscored that the crisis had not seriously affected the reform of the defense system and that Serbia will have an army composed of professional soldiers instead of conscripts by the beginning of 2011 at the latest. “Our army will have 30,000 people, with an active reserve force, it will be well trained, armed and ready to respond to all security risks,” said the general.

Extradition negotiations between U.S. and Serbia

2010-05-29T02:19:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May 24. 2010. (Serbia Today) – The governments of Serbia and the U.S. began negotiations relating to a new treaty on the extradition of the most serious crimes perpetrators. The previous agreement of this kind was signed 111 years ago. The first and still valid extradition treaty between the governments of two countries was signed on 25 October 1901. The Serbian and U.S. governments started commenced the first round of negotiations on the new treaty in Belgrade. State secretary of Serbian Ministry of Justice Slobodan Homen said there was very good cooperation between security institutions of the United States and Serbia, stressing the healthy relationship when it comes to the fight against organized crime and drugs. "It's not enough that only the security institutions and police work together, but it is necessary that all perpetrators of crimes are brought to court and be convicted", Homen said. He said that the willingness of the United States to extradite its citizens to Serbia is a reflection of confidence in the Serbian judiciary. Homen said that Serbia has negotiated the same kind of agreements with Croatia and Italy and expressed his expectation that general agreement with European union will be signed as soon as possible. U.S. Ambassador Mary Warlick said that such negotiations helps for more successful and deeper relations between the two countries, but they are also an opportunity for joint operations to overcome the threats and challenges of today. "We expect productive and detailed discussions on the draft text in the next few days and successful conclusion of bilateral extradition contract. That would provide important tools, and our countries will be able to answer all the security challenges", Warlick said .

Serbian telecommunications sector worth EUR 10bn

2010-05-29T02:17:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 22. 2010 (Serbia Today) -The value of Serbian telecommunications market is estimated at approximately EUR 10bn, while the total income in 2009 amounted to EUR 1.5bn. This accounts for 4.8 percent of GDP, Republic Telecommunication Agency (RATEL) Executive Director Milan Jankovic said on Tuesday. At a press conference presenting RATEL's work in the period from 2005 to 2010, Jankovic said that the number of landline clients in 2009 totaled 3.145.920, thus increasing by 42 percent. According to Jankovic, the total number of mobile telephony users added up to 9.9 million, which represents a 132 percent rise, while the number of cable-distributive system clients increased by 13 percent, thus reaching almost one million. Over 1.7 million people now use the Internet, which is 22 percent more than in 2005, Janković noted. RATEL Managing Board President Jovan Radunovic pointed out that Serbian mobile telecommunications in the past five years registered significant market opening and liberalization. A total of seven telecommunication service licenses were issued over the past few years, the most important one being the second landline operator license, which was granted to the telecommunications company Telenor, thus preventing the state-owned telecommunications company Telekom Srbija from monopolizing the market.

Tadic : Regionalization will not create false states in Serbia

2010-05-25T02:26:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 21. 2010 (Serbia Today) Decentralization and regionalization to strengthen the unity of the country and enable better functioning of state administration, said Serbian president Boris Tadic. "The idea of regionalization is not to create the false states. We wish to create better conditions for the functioning of state systems”, Tadic said at the recently held inaugural Assembly of Union of national, regional and local parties in Belgrade. Serbian President added that regionalization is one of the most important conditions for economic development of Serbia and that Serbia must find its own model for regionalization in the EU because there is no single model for it. Tadic warned that some parts of Serbia are empty, and stressed that the population goes from there in the search for the better living conditions. "We are faced with the problem of depopulation, and that's why Serbia must finish the process of decentralization and regionalization”, he said. According to him, the institutional changes are necessary to create a natural assumption for the decentralization and regionalization, and better connect all regions with the center of the state. "That's why we build roads and railways”, Tadic said, and expressed the expectation that in five years Serbia would create conditions to implement institutional changes which are necessary for decentralization and regionalization.

Jeremic : Solution for Kosovo through dialogue

2010-05-24T01:48:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 20. 2010 (Serbia Today) In New York, Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic announced that the opinion of International Court of Justice relating to the Kosovo issue will create the opportunity for achieving strategic compromise between Serbs and Albanians. The Serbian chief of diplomacy has also requested support of all UN members to solve the problems of Serbs living in Kosovo. "Despite recent setbacks on the ground, I believe that we could approach the new, promising period in Kosovo. In the future we should be focused on efforts to jointly found a solution through the dialogue, "Jeremic said at a session of the UN Security Council for Kosovo. The Serbia foreign minister stressed that it is necessary to create a new environment, which will make possible solutions in the future. He claims that this can be achieved only by peaceful dialogue, that result in a mutually acceptable solution and providing lasting stability in the region and beyond in the world. "The solution through dialogue, not unilateralism, is our goal. We are asking for support of all members of the UN in resolving the problem once and for all. This year could be the year of our joint success”, said Jeremic. Jeremic said that the dialogue between Serbs and Albanians, with a fair and balanced solution, ensures the peaceful future of Europe and Western Balkans. Jeremic as an illustration of the situation on the ground mentioned the cutting of mobile phone connections for Kosovo’s Serbs. He reminded that Kosovo special police units used force to prevent communications between Serbs outside their enclaves. He described this as a serious violation of contemporary humanitarian norms and rights. He welcomed the response of UNMIK and EULEX, which have distanced themselves from the controversial decisions of Kosovo official and their "Strategies for the northern Kosovo." Serbian foreign minister also has accused the International Civil Office (ICO) of attempting to violently implement the Ahtisaari plan, that violates UN Resolution 1244. “Serbia deeply appreciates the constructive approach of the UN and other organizations acting under their authority as EULEX. We all work together to improve the life of ordinary people”, Jeremic said. The Minister pointed out the problem of returning Serbs on Kosovo. Citing as an example the attack on the returnees in the village of Zac, as well as problem of power supply for Serbian communities in Kosovo.

Dragutinovic: Agreement reached for tax reforms

2010-05-22T02:58:00.001-07:00

Belgrade/ Zagreb, May, 19. 2010 (Serbia Today) - An agreement has been reached within the Serbian government for the needed tax reforms, said finance minister Diana Dragutinović on Saturday. She said that the contents of the reforms have not been finalized, but that there will be no increases on Value Added Taxes (VATs). While attending the EBRD conference in Zagreb, Dragutinović said that the reforms are expected to decrease the number of products that are being taxed by the lower VAT rate of eight percent. She said that these products make up 40 percent of production, and a normal percentage rate for such products would be about 10 to 15 percent. The high level VAT rate in Serbia is 18 percent. Dragutinović said that the tax reforms do not aim to cause loss of taxation income and stressed that the reforms are needed in the transition to a new model of economic growth, based on exports. She said that the “Greek crisis scenario” is not threatening Serbia, since Serbia’s public debt is at about 30 percent of the gross domestic product, and the budget deficit is four percent.

Ljaljic : Serbian government is too big

2010-05-21T06:55:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 18. 2010 (Serbia Today)- Serbian Labor Minister Rasim Ljajić believes that the government should be reconstructed because it is too big. “The governments of European countries, by rule, resort to a reconstruction of the government at the halfway point of their mandates, and we have an additional reason to do this, which is the economic crisis, ” Ljajić told the Tanjug news agency. He claims that a reconstruction would be “good for the government”, reiterating that he has spoken about this several times before and that he was criticized for it, because some believe that he is trying to promote himself and his party through this. “Until I become a more influential politician, all I have left is to in this way, publicly, speak in support of a reconstruction of the government, he said. Ljajić is a president of the Social-democratic party of Serbia. He has been calling for the government to be downsized since the beginning of the mandate. Ljajic also supports decreasing the number of parliamentary MPs to 150.

Brammertz : No reasons to believe that Mladic is not in Serbia

2010-05-21T05:14:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 18. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz has repeated during his visit to Belgrade that the most important issue remains the arrest of Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić. Brammertz also announced that based on the information he was given he had no reason to believe former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladić was outside of Serbia. He added that the Prosecution is conducting a detailed analysis of why Mladić still has not been arrested. “My associates share this impression, Brammertz said after meetings with President of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajić and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković. Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor did not wish to give a precise assessment of Serbia’s cooperation but said that it was a continuous process and that there were two more weeks before his new report is due to be submitted to the UN Security Council. Brammertz also met with representatives of Serbian services which are searching for the Hague fugitives. He talked to members of the action team and its operatives, directors of the Security-Information Agency (BIA) and Military Security Agency (VBA) for several hours. EU ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia depends on the cooperation assessment that will find its way into Brammertz’s new report. Brammertz announced that the indictment against Mladić will be amended with additional charges. Brammertz said that there can be no alternative to the arrest of Mladić and Goran Hadžić and that he expects Serbian authorities to take practical measures to bring them to justice and the politicians to support their efforts. Commenting on the declaration condemning the crime in Srebrenica passed in the Serbian parliament, Brammertz said he will not mention the Serbian government's gesture in his next report to the UN Security Council which is due in June. “This is not something I will mention in the cooperation report, because it is a political statement. Of course it is a step in the right direction, but I hope it was taken for the benefit of Serbia and its people and not of the Hague Tribunal,” Brammertz said.

Serbia and Croatia discussing about lawsuits withdrawal

2010-05-20T02:11:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 17. 2010 (Serbia Today) Serbia is ready to withdraw a lawsuit against Croatia if both countries agree to withdraw their mutual charges of genocide, unconditionally and simultaneously, announced Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic during his visit to Zagreb. His Croatian colleague Jadranka Kosor replied that the decision on the withdrawal of the Croatian lawsuit against Serbia for genocide can only be taken by the Government of Croatia, but that subject has not been discussed yet.
"Serbia is prepared to withdraw our lawsuit, of course, if it is an agreement for both countries to do the something simultaneously and without any conditions,” said Serbian Prime Minister Cvetkovic. "Speaking on behalf of the Croatia Government and me personally, it is important to define the crimes of Milosevic's policy, the evil of that aggressor policy. For the government of Croatia is not a bilateral issue," she said. As a sign of improving relations between the two countries Kosor submitted to Cvetkovic a compact disc with the EU law standards translated into Croatian. "I want this act to be a pledge of our good cooperation and friendship between the two countries and our strong support to our neighbor, "Kosor said. The two prime ministers also discussed the acceleration of economic cooperation, the search for missing persons, solving the refugee issue, and accelerating the process of succession and the resolution of boundary disputes. A few years ago the previous Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader promised to Vojislav Kostunica, while both were prime ministers the translation of EU standards. It is 100,000 pages of regulations of the European Union. That translation should cost Serbia about 10 million EUR but it is a gift of Croatian Government.

Captain Dragan arrested in Australia

2010-05-19T02:37:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 15. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Dragan Vasiljkovic, alias Captain Dragan, accused of committing war crimes in Croatia in 1992 and 1993, was arrested in Australia. Australian media reported that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested Vasiljkovic, on Tuesday afternoon. He had spent 43 days as a fugitive. After the Australian Supreme Court confirmed his extradition to Croatia, where he would stand trial, Vsiljkovic disappeared on March 30. The local media states that the AFP worked closely with the Dutch police, which supplied them with information that led to his arrest. The 55 year-old Vasiljkovic is an Australian citizen and lived in the country under the name of Daniel Snedden. He is accused of committing war crimes against military prisoners of war and civilians in 1992 in Knin and participating in attacks and pillaging of several Croatian villages in 1993. Media stated that Vasiljkovic also has Serbian citizenship.

Gordon: Us against division of Kosovo

2010-05-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, May, 14. 2010 -(Serbia Today)U.S. are against division of Kosovo because it is recognized as a sovereign and independent state, said Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon during his visit to Belgrade. Gordon noted in an interview for Beta news agency,
that United States considers that Belgrade and Pristina should, as soon as possible, start talks not about status, but about solving practical problems. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State said that the European integration of Serbia and the entire Balkans, is "a strategic goal of the administration of Barack Obama” but added that Belgrade will find it difficult to get closer to the membership in the EU with the unsolved question of Kosovo. Gordon said that "the opinions of the International Court of Justice, whatever that would be, could not become a turning point.” He pointed that the issue of Kosovo should be overcome in order to solve practical problems and improve living conditions for all citizens. "I think we need new talks between Serbia and Kosovo on practical issues. I would not call that negotiations because Kosovo is an independent, sovereign state but there can and must be efforts to solve difficult practical issues," said the American official. According to Gordon, who is in charge of relations with Europe and Eurasia, Pristina and Belgrade should talk directly and there is no reason to wait for the opinion of the International Court of Justice. "The talks could begin immediately because it is a useful and necessary process but blocked for the long time. But there is an impression that both sides are waiting for some reason on the opinion of International Court of Justice, and then let it be so," he said. Asked whether the division of Kosovo is acceptable to Washington, Gordon said that "the U.S. does not support" the idea because it would set a precedent that would encourage new thinking about the divisions and that "it is not in anyone’s interest." "We recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo and that includes all citizens within Kosovo, Serbs and other minorities should have their rights guaranteed by law, with a significant degree of autonomy, decentralization as an important principle, the protection of religious sites and local communities, but all in the context of territorial integrity, "said Gordon. Asked whether the division of Kosovo would be acceptable in exchange for Serbian recognition of Kosovo's independence Gordon said that "no one expects that Serbia will recognize Kosovo," but also to Washington, "the division is not an option." Gordon rejected the allegations that the Washington is thinking about a new UN Security Council resolution on Kosovo instead of 1244, pointing out that Kosovo is independent and that the U.S. does not see the reason for "new efforts in the UN.

Italy wants Serbia in EU

2010-05-17T01:54:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, May, 13. 2010 (Serbia Today) - The Italian parliament is ready to be the first to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the European Union and Serbia, according to President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini. "Such support of Italy is important for Serbia's road towards the EU," Fini said after a meeting with the President and Prime Minister and President of Serbia Boris Tadic and Mirko Cevtkovic. Finney believes that as Serbia is part of Europe it is necessary that the European Union should include the Western Balkans. "Serbia is part of Europe geographically, but primarily in the cultural sense and require the inclusion of Balkan countries in the EU as soon as possible to complete its political map," Fini declared. Italy believes that Europe needs to honestly assess the efforts of Serbia towards the EU, the Italian official said, adding that Europe should not apply double standards in relation to countries who wish to join the Union. "

Government of Serbia takes over the company Corridor 10

2010-05-17T01:52:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May 13. 2010 (Serbia today) – At the meeting on Friday (7th. may), the Serbian government recommended that the Public Enterprise Roads of Serbia transfer the founding of the firm Corridor 10 to the state. Thus the government should become the direct owner of the enterprises. Blic writes that the new director will be set up by Democratic Party. The company "Corridor 10" will be extinguished, and the Government will establish a new company instead with much greater powers. This company will be responsible for continuing the construction of Corridor 10, as well as the road Belgrade-Boljare, part of the so-called corridor 11, which will be linked to roads in seven European countries, confirmed the Ministry of Infrastructure. In addition to construction, the firm will deal also with the expropriation and design, which has so far been the biggest problem in the implementation of corridor 10. Milutin Mrkonjic, Minister for Infrastructure, said the establishment of this company will upgrade to the existing 'Corridor 10', which was not independent, but was a subsidiary firm of Roads of Serbia. 'Corridors of Serbia' will not be a public company, but a limited liability company. It will spend budget funds and will not make a profit. It’ll have full autonomy in the work, "said Mrkonjic. New company will not receive any new employees, but will second employees from "Corridor 10", as well as from related ministries. At the head of the new company will be an expert, who will be recommended by the Democratic Party. The government said that the candidate already exists and is currently employed in the Directorate of Land Development in Belgrade. On the other hand, the establishment of new companies will automatically reduce the jurisdiction of the "Roads of Serbia", which will in future be responsible for maintaining roads.

Malovic: Serbia cooperate with EULEKS

2010-05-15T02:17:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 12. 2010 (Serbia today) - Cooperation between Serbia and EULEX is very good, claims Serbian Justice Minister Snežana Malović . Speaking to Radio Free Europe she said that cooperation is especially good in the judiciary sector, adding that pressing problems are getting solved. Malović also reminded public of the protocol signed last year with the EU mission in Kosovo regarding cooperation with the Serbian Interior Ministry for intensifying the fight against organized crime and the control of the administrative borders. She said that one result of such cooperation was Friday’s, arrest of Sabit Geci, former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the 1999 conflicts.

Fascism has no place in Serbia

2010-05-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, May, 11. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said yesterday evening that there is no place for fascism in Serbia and that Serbia is firmly committed to becoming a key partner to countries that want peace in the region. Speaking at a reception held to observe World War Two Victory in Europe Day, Cvetkovic said that it is our task to protect human dignity, to protect the individual’s right to live in a democratic society and to defend international law, while ensuring economic development and a stable future. Victory in Europe Day reminds us of the atrocities of World War Two and of the consequences of violence, ethnic and religious intolerance and genocide, he said. Europe Day is also celebrated on this day since modern Europe was built on the principles of the struggle against fascism, on the principles of peace, understanding, tolerance and cooperation, said the Prime Minister. More than 50 million people lost their lives in World War Two and 61 countries were affected by the violence and destruction it brought, including former Yugoslavia and Serbia, where human losses were immense, he said. This was the first country to offer resistance to death, fear and humiliation brought by fascism, therefore we are obliged to remind our future generations that it is the duty of all countries and nations to make every effort to prevent the emergence of inhuman ideologies, said Cvetkovic. Lessons learnt from war warn us that ignoring violence and indifference can reach fatal proportions. The ideal of freedom is the foundation of every society’s development, he said. The memory of those who fought for our freedom makes us responsible for trying to understand each other better. It obliges us to defend basic principles of civilisation, to prevent religious differences from turning us against each other and to be aware that it is only by respecting others that we can respect ourselves, he said. We cannot forget that World War Two led to fatal conflicts in this region, said Cvetkovic. Sites of atrocities and massacres in Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Jasenovac, Jajinci, Staro Sajmiste, Novi Sad, Nis and a number of other places are painful reminders of the War, warning us that events like these must never be repeated, stressed the Prime Minister. We must honour and respect all those who gave their lives for freedom – our freedom fighters, those from other countries and the Soviet army, who participated in the struggle to liberate our country from fascism, he said. Serbia is situated in an area which has been a focal point of conflicting interests of powerful countries for centuries. Its history is in fact a history of war and today Serbia knows that the struggle for peace and freedom must be a peaceful one and that it is the only way to protect our national potential, he said. There is no place for fascism in Serbia.

Serbia clearly committed to processing all war crimes

2010-05-14T03:05:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, 10 May 2010 – Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic stated today that the discovery of a possible mass grave in Raska with remains of over 250 Kosovo Albanians is of extreme importance for determining the truth about crimes committed in the province. Malovic told the Beta news agency that Serbia is fully prepared to uncover the truth about all missing persons in Kosovo-Metohija and bring to justice all perpetrators of these crimes. The Minister said she expects the investigation to intensify in order to shed some light on the fate of around 2,000 missing Serbs and Albanians from the province. She reiterated that Serbia is clearly committed to and invests maximum efforts in finding and punishing perpetrators of all war crimes, regardless of their nationality or position they may occupy. By discovering a possible mass grave in Raska, Serbia once again showed its clear stance towards its past and sent a message that these things will not be repeated, the Minister said.

Tadic : Serbi wants EU and Kosovo

2010-05-14T03:02:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 10. 2010 (Serbia today) - Serbia definitely wants to become a member of the EU but will never give up on protecting its integrity in Kosovo, said Serbian president Boris Tadic. At a ceremony commemorating 180 years of the Serbian Army (VS) elite Guard (Garda) at Pozarevac, Tadic said that those are the two key points of Serbia's current and future policy. Serbian president stressed that the country “takes care of its people, wherever they may live”, and added that Serbia conducts a peaceful policy. “If there is a stable Serbia, conditions are met for the development of all of southeastern Europe, to benefit all people who live in this area,” the president told the gathering. He also added that it was very important for the “people, all institutions and political parties” to unite over those principles. “We are extending a hand of reconciliation because today we need unity. The Serbian Army has its place in that context, and today and in the future, we are ready to invest in the army despite the crisis,” Tadić pointed.

Brammertz comes to Belgrade

2010-05-14T03:00:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May, 10. 2010 (Serbia Today) The chief prosecutor of the the Hague tribunal, Serge Brammertz will arrive in Belgrade on May 12, where he will meet Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. The Tribunal announced that Bramerc will spend two days in Belgrade (May 12 and 13), where he will meet with the head of the National Council for Cooperation with Hague tribunal Rasim Ljajic, War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic and other officials of the action team that is searching for fugitives. The topic of discussion will be Serbia's cooperation with the Tribunal. Brammertz expects to present his report to the UN Security Council on June 18th. He will also evaluate the cooperation of Serbia, including the progress in the search of defendants who are still fugitives - Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. The Brammertz assessment of Belgrade's cooperation depends on whether the EU will ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia.

Ambassador Vorlik opens conference on technology and education in Belgrade

2010-05-13T02:45:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, May 08. 2010 (Serbia today) - U.S. ambassador in Serbia Mary Vorlik will open the annual conference "Technology and Education: necessity or luxury?", which will be held from 7 to 9 May in Belgrade. At the conference, one of the speakers will be Professor Sean Konli with the Department of English Language from the New School in New York, and regional adviser for the teaching of English Lisa Harsbarger. The conference will be held under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy in Serbia and the Association of Teachers of English Serbia (ELTA). The Department of Media and Cultural Embassy is one of the biggest sponsors of the conference, not only through financial support but also in bringing experts from the United States to share their knowledge with counterparts from Serbia and the region.

US and EU have different planes for Serbia – Kosovo relations?

2010-05-12T01:35:00.000-07:00

Belgrade. May, 07. 2010 (Serbia today) EU wants Serbia to start to start practical cooperation with Kosovo authorities, while Washington plans to request that Belgrade consent to the suspension of the UN SC Resolution 1244 in exchange for accelerated integration into the EU and its funds, writes daily Blic. According to Blic, Washington has been working on that plan for two months. EU and Washington obviously have different plans for the day after the International Court of Justice gives its opinion over Kosovo independence, writes daily Blic. While the EU plan is not defined and is primarily focused on pressure on Serbia, Washington has been working for two months on a plan for suspension of the UN SC Resolution 1244 in exchange for accelerated integration for Serbia to the EU and its funds. Obrad Kesic, A well informed political analyst of American ‘TSM Global’ agency of Washington reveals to ‘Blic’ the new policy of the State Department. He says that the plan has the approval of the White House. He also says that Washington expects Belgrade to give consent for the suspension of the UN SC Resolution 1244 immediately after announcement of the ICJ opinion. Blic’s sources from the Serbian Foreign Ministry are categorical that these are mere ‘provocations’ and that there shall be no negotiations before the ICJ gives its opinion and before the session of the UN SC on that occasion is held. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told Tanjug yesterday that ‘negotiations over Kosovo and Metohija are possible within the frame of the UN SC Resolution 1244 only’.

Arandjelovac Elections-Victory of the Progressive party

2010-05-11T02:43:00.001-07:00

Belgrade/Arandjelovac, May 06. 2010(Serbia Today) - The local election in Arandjelovac, a small town, some 80 kilometers from Belgrade, attracted great public and media attention. Many expected the inhabitants of Arandjelovac to reflect the opinion of all of Serbia and present the real state of affairs on the country’s political scene. Results of the Municipal Electoral Commission confirmed the Serbian Progressive Party won 25.11 percent of the vote and 12 of 41 total seats, Democratic Party 20.69 percent of the vote or 10 seats, while the Socialists are supported with the 14.3 percent of voters, and obtained six seats. After repeated local elections in one polling station in Arandjelovac, Serbian Radical Party has managed to get a representative in the local parliament. The Socialist Party of Serbia will lose one member and the Serbian Progressive Party will lose three members in the local parliament shall have G17, New Serbia and the Democratic Party of Serbia, which won 7.17 percent, 7.09 percent and 6.31 percent of the vote. Liberal Democratic Party and the Serbian radical party will be represented with two members, scoring 5.4 percent, or 5.16 percent of the vote. Their representatives will not have Serbian Renewal Movement and the two groups of citizens. On Arandjelovac local elections voted 65.31 percent of registered voters. Elections were held on 25TH April, but repeated because of irregularities at one polling station.

Jeremic to attend UN ministerial conference in New York

2010-05-10T07:20:00.001-07:00

Belgrade/New York, May 5 2010 (Serbia Today) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic will attend today in New York a UN ministerial conference marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The conference will be attended by foreign ministers of all countries that signed the Treaty in 1970. These countries are all UN members except India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. During the visit to New York, Jeremic will have a series of bilateral talks with officials from all over the world and will brief them about current developments concerning the status of Kosovo-Metohija.

Lajcak prepares plan for Kosovo

2010-05-08T08:42:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, May 03, 2010 (Souirce: B92) – As Belgrade TV station B 92 reports, the Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said that the EU will be prepared on the day that the ICJ gives its opinion on Kosovo’s independence proclamation. He said that he has prepared a plan for solving the problems between Serbia and Kosovo. Even though he did not want to speak on the details of the plan, Lajčak said that it involves technical cooperation between Belgrade and Priština, and has nothing to do with the status of Kosovo. The EU Ministers will be informed of the new plan for the Kosovo crisis on May 10. Lajčak’s Slovakia has not recognized Kosovo’s independence. “I can say that we need a regional dynamic and communications on practical things that can enable the entire Western Balkans to progress. It is impossible to keep the problems and blockades between the countries continuing and have the countries progress towards the European Union. It goes against the logic and spirit of EU, and the Union is not prepared to accept new members in that way,” Lajčak said. Political analyst Dušan Janjić said that the solution for cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo that Slovakia has prepared will only address technical questions. “As good as could be, such an initiative cannot solve the essential problem, and that is the status of the province,” Janjić said. He said that a better idea would be the one proposed by the French earlier for Serbia entering the EU and Kosovo joining the UN, but without the recognition of independence. Janjić reminded that such a model, in which states were UN members and participated in the work of the UN but did not have a vote, was successfully implemented during the cold war on Ukraine, Belarus, and even East Germany and later the Palestinian movement .

Dragutinovic, Bringeus to sign agreement on development cooperation

2010-05-08T01:31:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, May 01, 2010 (Serbia Today) - Finance Minister Diana Dragutinovic and Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Krister Bringeus will sign an agreement concerning development cooperation for 2010 between Serbia and Sweden at 11.00 on 4 May, at Nemanjina 11. Under this agreement, Sweden will support programs and projects for the democratization of society, human rights protection and environmental protection. Key areas defined for dialogue are sustainable development, gender equality and the role of women in democratic development and EU integration. Sweden provided more than €103 million in assistance to Serbia from 2001 to 2009 .

Jeremic: Strong support for Beijing continued

2010-05-07T02:26:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April 30. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Vuk Jeremic, the Serbian Foreign Minister discussed yesterday in Shanghai the issue of Kosovo with the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. He told Tanjug news agency that Beijing will continue to support Serbia in defense of its territorial integrity. "We had extensive talks on Kosovo, in order to synchronize our participation in the international arena, particularly in the United Nations, but also in all international organizations, where the secessionist authorities in Pristina could attempt to gain membership, a privilege that only sovereign states, "said the Minister. “China is one of the most influential countries of today”, said Jeremic and added that Beijing's support "of paramount importance and is a great encouragement to continue with our efforts." Jeremic said that he and Young spoke about deepening economic cooperation, first of all new investment in strategic infrastructure of Serbia - transport and energy. In the near future, we expect the official initiation of new projects, he announced. We can be very satisfied with the fact that no other country of the Balkans can boast with this kind of relations with China, initiated by the signing of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between our two countries during last year's visit to Beijing by the Serbian President Boris Tadic, Jeremic said.

Italy strongly supports Serbia's EU integration

2010-05-05T08:31:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, 29 April 2010 (Serbia Today) – Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic said yesterday that Italy strongly supports Serbia's European integration and that Italy’s support will be of great importance when Serbia’s EU application is considered. Djelic, after talks with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, said that they discussed the forthcoming conference in Sarajevo, to be held on 2 June, as well as bringing the Western Balkans closer to membership of the EU. He stated that Serbia will present its plan of development, agenda 2020, and will encourage other countries in the region to do the same. Speaking on scientific and technological cooperation, the Minister of Science and Technology has announced that from September the Embassy of Italy in Serbia will obtain advisers on issues of science, who will upgrade bilateral relations to a higher level. Frattini stressed that Serbia’s submission of candidacy for EU membership to the European Commission by the end of Spain's EU presidency is a priority for Italy. The second priority for Italy would be for other member states of the Union to give the green light for the start of the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia, he said. The role of Serbia is to contribute to regional stability, the stability of countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to cooperate in the fight against organized crime, said the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Frattini has welcomed Serbia's intention to present its agenda 2020 at the conference in Sarajevo. The meeting’s goal will be that Western Balkan countries present concrete projects for investment, he said. It is important that countries that still have doubts about the membership of the Western Balkans in the EU are shown that these candidacy countries not only ask for money, but offer new opportunities and projects for investment, he concluded.

Security situation in Serbia stable

2010-05-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April 28. 2010 (Serbia Today) - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic said yesterday that the security situation in Serbia is stable and that there have been no reports of any terrorist risks. Opening the “Emergency Management – dealing with aftermath of acts of terrorism” regional conference, Dacic said that past terrorist attacks in the Ground Safety Zone in southern Serbia mainly targeted police and army personnel. The Law on emergency situations envisages a response by state and local bodies to natural disasters as well as terrorist acts, said Dacic. The implementation of this law will start by the middle of this year, he said. The law is in harmony with EU regulations, said Dacic adding that the positive experiences of EU countries were taken into account while drafting the law. He stressed that a national strategy on protecting citizens in emergency situations should also be adopted, explaining that the document implies prediction, control, response and assistance to the populace. Dacic recalled that the Law on emergency situations mentions an integrated management system for the whole of Serbia, affirming that activities have already been taken to record all black spots in the country most likely to be the location of emergency situations. He also recalled that terrorist acts are a global threat and are mostly linked with criminal activities, adding that state organs throughout the world must take greater care in order to protect people and property. Assistant Minister of the Interior and Head of the Sector for Emergency Situations Predrag Maric pointed to the importance of pre-emptively defining risks and threats and preventing and removing the consequences of emergency situations. Maric said that a great deal has been done in Serbia in this respect, recalling a number of protocols and agreements which Serbia signed, but also added that Serbia still has a lot of work to do in order to set up a system which will help us avoid the mistakes made by other countries in the region.

Kuwait interested in products of Serbia’s military industry

2010-05-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

Belgrade/Kuwait, 27 April 2010 (Serbia Today)– Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac said yesterday that Kuwait officials expressed great interest in products of the Serbian military industry and that it was agreed to bring back those products to Kuwait’s market. Sutanovac told Tanjug news agency after the meeting with Emir’s Deputy Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah that Serbia will no longer only export young scientists and the country’s products, but that it will also become an integrating system of a great part of the military industry of the region and of the whole of Europe, Sutanovac said. He voiced the hope that this business cooperation with Kuwait will open up possibilities for export of these products to other countries in the Persian Gulf as well. Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad said after the meeting that Kuwait’s army is very familiar with the equipment made in Serbia and that he expects that a series of bilateral agreements will be signed. We expect that our cooperation will surpass commercial relations, ie the sale of arms and military equipment and that we will cooperate in the field of education and exchange visits. We hope that, following the invitation of Minister Sutanovac, we will soon visit Serbia, said Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammad. During the day, the delegation of the Ministry of Defense will visit a military base in Kuwait.

“State, but also citizens to blame for flooding damage”

2010-05-02T11:38:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April 26, 2010 (Serbia Today) - President Boris Tadić said that both the state and the citizens themselves are to blame partially for the flooding damage incurred in the south. He said in Leskovac that the state must help the people hurt by the floods and that there can be no favoritism in the process. Tadić said that the floods that hit Leskovac and the region are a consequences of “laziness and irresponsibility,” adding that those who did not clean the drainage canals in the region will be punished. Tadić visited the Leskovac community of Bobište, where about 1,000 homes were flooded, stating that there is no rational explanation for why the canals for getting the water out of these communities have not been cleaned in over 50 years, adding that he would come back in several months to see what has been done to remedy the problems. “I demand that those who were supposed to clean the canals and did not do so be punished. Also, there should be inquiries into how licenses were received for building homes next to and right on top of the canals. Of course, a part of the responsibility is on the citizens as well, who behaved recklessly towards the drainage canals,” the President said. Bobište citizens told him that they are afraid that the commission that is evaluating the amount of damage to their homes would not do its job objectively, which is what happened to them five years ago in similar circumstances. Tadić said that he would follow the events closely and make sure that no one receives special treatment. After Leskovac, Tadić visited Aleksinac, which also suffered serious damages in the flooding.

US Senate resolution affirmation of progress in relations with Serbia

2010-04-30T19:09:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April 24, 2010 (Serbia Today) – Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic stated today that a resolution passed by the United States Senate acknowledging Serbia’s efforts to integrate into Europe and the global community is an affirmation of the progress made in relations between the United States and Serbia. Djelic, who is visiting the United States, stated to the Tanjug news agency that the United States Senate passed a resolution yesterday which congratulates Serbia for submitting its application for EU candidacy and calls on the European Council to adopt a clear policy towards this request in a timely fashion. The resolution states that the United States views the EU as a source of stability, security and prosperity for Europe and the entire world, therefore Brussels is encouraged to continue its cooperation with all Western Balkan countries regarding their European integration process, said Djelic. This resolution, initiated by a group of highly influential and esteemed senators, will greatly contribute to the strengthening of relations between the United States and Serbia, said the Minister. Djelic said that the resolution affirms that the United States believes that Serbia has established full cooperation with the Hague tribunal and calls for the extradition of the two remaining indictees.

Djelic to sign agreement on scientific cooperation between Serbia, US

2010-04-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April 23. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic was at the visit to the United States yesterday. He signed an agreement between Serbia and the United States on scientific and technological cooperation. Djelic met with National Science Foundation Executive Arden Bement, President of the National Academy of Engineering Charles Vest and the Institute of Medicine Harvey Fineberg. The Deputy Prime Minister joined by the Serbian delegation at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). Djelic will also meet with representatives of the State Department, Congress and USAID.

Miguel Angel Moratinos visited Belgrade

2010-04-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April 22. 2010 (Serbia Today) - The Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Morationos arrived in Belgrade where he met the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Turkey. The main topics for discussion was the situation in the region, the future of the Western Balkans and the other issues. Miguel Angel Moratinos arrived on Tuesday afternoon in Belgrade and held a joint meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and Ahmet Davutoglu, the Foreign Minister of Turkey. At the tripartite meeting the discussion was about the regional cooperation, the European future of the Western Balkans, as well as Spain's EU presidency in the region and other issues, said the Spanish ambassador Íñigo de Palacio España to Tanjug news agency. Commenting on whether at the meeting was discused about the formula for the participation of Belgrade and Pristina at the forthcoming conference of the EU-Western Balkans in Sarajevo in June, De Palacio said that in the common interests is to find a solution for the presence of all countries and stakeholders in the region at the meeting in Sarajevo on June 2nd. "In the interest of the entire EU and all Western Balkan countries is to all countries and all stakeholders in the region to be present in Sarajevo and we will not spare the efforts to achieve that goal with the help of colleagues from the EU and all partners in the region," said the Spain Ambassador.

The Democratic Party Reveals its Donators

2010-04-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April 21. 2010 (Serbia Today) - The final financial reports for 2009 were submitted by sixteen political parties so far, but it was only the Democratic Party (DS) that made public the details of the report including its donators and financial supporters. G-17 Plus Party published its report on the Internet, but there is no list of donors, or the amount of contributions that were made. The other Parties wait until their reports are reviewed by the relevant state institutions and be published in the “Official Gazette” before they would make them public. According to the report, the DS has been funded by 52 individuals in the past year , unknown to the public, with a total of 986,037 RSD. The largest contribution was made by Dragan Vujadinović - 76,450 RSD. The Democrats also had eighteen donors among companies, which gave about 14 million RSD. As the largest single donors were listed "Media Direct" and "DM marketing international", both from Belgrade, which have made financial contributions of the 4.5 million RSD. Most of the donors, as well as in the report for 2008, are small, mostly publicly unknown companies. The spokesman for the Agency for the fight against corruption, Aleksandra Kostic, says that submitted reports will be thoroughly checked and then delivered to the public for inspection in the coming days.

The Democratic Party Reveals its Donators

2010-04-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

Serbian Progressive Party to elect party chiefs on April 24

2010-04-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April, 20, 2010 (Source:B92) - The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) will elect its presidency and main committee on Saturday, on April 24,said Nikola Selakovic the SNS legal advisor. Selaković said at a press conference that the election would be attended by 3,200 party delegates from around the country, as well as delegations from abroad—Russia, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and other countries. “SNS will show that it represents a clear and certain alternative regime, that it has programs for ending the crisis and getting out of this catastrophic economic situation,” Selaković said. He added that the party would show that it has been able to gain the support of a large number of citizens in a small amount of time, and gain many partners from around the world as well. SNS legal team member Marko Djurić criticized the Serbian government for being late with announcing the competition for electing deputy ministers, administration chiefs, and state bureau directors, adding that this shows that the government is ready and willing to violate laws. He said that the deadline for announcing the competitions ended on April 16, adding that the depoliticization of the state administration is a necessary step towards development and European integration.

Warlick : We Want Serbia to Join WTO

2010-04-24T03:31:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April 18. 2010 (Serbia Today) - The United States of America wants to strengthen bilateral relations with Serbia and specially when it comes to trade and investments, and also to help Serbia to join the World Trade Organization, said the U.S. Ambassador Mary Warlick. "We hope that completing the process of accession to the WTO was an important component of EU accession and of the opening of the Serbian market. We think that it is very important and we will see what we can do," Mary Warlick told the press and added that she wants to focus on improving economic cooperation between Serbia and the United States and that in Washington there is great interest in this aspect of the relationship between the two countries. "We want people to know that in Serbia there are plenty of opportunities (for investment), and I think that the United States and Serbia can do much more in this regard," added the American ambassador. Commenting on the recent visit of Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg Belgrade, Mary Warlick said that Steinberg came with a message of support to the US-Serbian relations and reiterated a similar message was conveyed by Vice President Joseph Biden in May of last year. "This is largely a follow up on the visit Vice President Biden. The Deputy Secretary of State reiterated the wish that our relations with Serbia 'reset' and our desire to expand cooperation with Serbia in all areas," said Warlick.

Jagland: The Results of the Reforms in Serbia are Impressive

2010-04-22T06:48:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April. 16. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Torbjorn Jagland ,the Secretary General of the Council of Europe said on Wednesday in Belgrade that the reforms undertaken in Serbia are so impressive that the Committee of Ministers of the organization decided to stop special supervision and replace it with the regular analysis carried out by all Member States. "I congratulate the Serbian Government which carried out reforms that are very impressive. For this reason, the Committee of Ministers decided to replace special supervision with regular analysis," said Jagland after meeting with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic. The Secretary-General stressed out that the Council of Europe is ready to continue to assist Serbia in all the necessary reforms, particularly in reforming the judiciary and the fight against organized crime. The Vice Minister Bozidar Djelic said that the Council of Europe is an important partner of Serbia in European integration, because the EU decisions are based on the assessment of this organization when it comes to respecting human rights, the rule of law, minority rights and the like. He said that the Serbian Council of Europe will send a new report on compliance with those standards by June and by the end of the year aims to redefine its relationship with that organization. Speaking of cooperation with this organization, Djelic said that he expects that the Council of Europe continue to respect international law "and that its membership will not accept Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. He also stressed the importance of a cooperation of Serbia with the Bank for the development of the Council of Europe Serbia is receiving substantial assistance to resolve the refugee issue, the knowledge economy and most vulnerable social groups and for June announced a visit to the Governor of the Bank of Raphael Alomar. Jagland also met the Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, the Speaker of the House Slavica Djukic Dejanovic and talked with President Boris Tadic, Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic, President of the Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs Dragoljub Micunovic, Snezana Malovic Minister of Justice and Snezana Samardzic, Ministers of Sport.

Day of mourning in Belgrade on Friday

2010-04-21T06:37:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April 15. 2010 (Serbia Today) - The Serbian Government proclaimed Thursday April 15th to be the Mourning day because of the death of the Polish president Lech Kacinski, and Polish State officials in plane crash at Smolensk, government representative announced. Lech Kacinski, his wife Marija, the members of the Polish Government and military leadership, as well as the crew members have died on April 10 after the plane crash at Smolensk in the west of Russia. To have an official day of mourning according to legislation according to legislation the media houses are obliged to broadcast the adequate music and the program, and the newspapers and publishing organization to print the magazines in black color, stating on the covers the decision to declare its days of mourning and celebration.

The Presidents of Serbia and Croatia in Backi Monostor on Friday

2010-04-21T06:34:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April 15. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Boris Tadic and Ivo Josipovic, the presidents of Serbia and Croatia, will talk on Friday April 16 in Backi Monostor (Vojvodina) and after the meeting President Josipovic will meet with National Croatia Community in Vojvodina, said Jerka Alajbeg, Croatian Consul in Croatia. The two presidents will previously participate at the trilateral meeting in Pecuj and they will be hosted by Laslo Soljom, president of Hungary. Josipovic”s visit to Backi Monostor, a place near Sombor, will be his first visit in Serbia since he became a president in February. According to Jerka Alajbeg, the Croatian National Council delegation will be lead by its president Branko Horvat, who will inform the Croatian president of the position of Croatian national minority in Vojvodina. One of the main topics will be the election for the members of the Croatian National Council announced for June.

Sutanovac signs book of condolences at Polish Embassy

2010-04-20T07:05:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April. 14. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac signed the Book of Condolences at the Embassy of Poland in Belgrade today following the tragic death of Polish President Lech Kaczyński and a number of top Polish officials and citizens in an airplane crash near Smolensk. With great sadness we received the news of the tragic death of the President of Poland and officials of your country. On behalf of the members of the Ministry of Defence and my own behalf I express my deepest condolences to the Polish people and the families of those killed, wrote Sutanovac. The book of condolences was also signed by Serbian Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletic.

PM receives one million signatures

2010-04-19T08:00:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April 13. 2010 ( Source: B92) - Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković met with opposition SNS and NS leaders Tomislav Nikolić and Velimir Ilić on Monday. The two opposition leaders from the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) and New Serbia (NS), and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) Vice-President Nenad Popović, handed over a petition signed by one million citizens calling for early parliamentary elections to be announced in Serbia. Nikolić told reporters that Cvetković said during the meeting that he believes his cabinet was "performing well" and that it had fulfilled "almost all goals it set out to achieve". Nikolić, Ilić and Popović announced that they would continue such joint campaigns because Serbia "needs change". The opposition parties do not believe that the government is working well and say that citizens have a low standard of living. The meeting between the three opposition officials and the prime minister lasted for about an hour. During this time, the street on which the government building is located was closed because of the large number of SNS, NS, and DSS activist, who were carrying party flags and banners. On Sunday, Nikolić told B92 TV that he sees Cvetković’s decision to meet with them as a wise one, but does not have great expectations for the meeting. “Truthfully, he is showing that this campaign we carried out is important, since the prime minister is participating in it in some way, and is showing that he is interested in what the Serbian citizens think, and that he should maybe give arguments against what we are calling for, since he obviously does not want to listen to us and meet our demands,” Nikolić said. He added that while there have been different reactions in public from government officials, it has been made clear by everyone in the ruling coalition that they do not want to announce new elections. Asked about the fact that DSS is sending its vice-president instead of its leader, Nikolić said, “Why would I insist on Vojislav Koštunica coming if he does not want to,” adding that by sending their deputy leader, it showed that DSS supports the campaign and “will support others, just as we will support some of theirs”. CeSID Director Marko Blagojević, who took part in the same talk show, said that the SNS push was a successful "marketing action", but that it would not be enough to force early elections. “I think that the chances are very slim. Only if the SNS initiative coincides with the political will inside the ruling coalition to head in that direction, to dissolve parliament and announce early parliamentary elections. It is an issue of the political will of the ruling coalition at this point, not an obligation,” he said. “SNS is a relatively new party on the Serbian political scene, regardless of the two decades of experience of its political leaders, so now they have to mobilize their supporters, and that is what SNS was successful in doing with this campaign,” political analyst Jovo Bakić, another guest on the program, said. He said that the number of signatures on the petition "does not mean that Nikolić would defeat President Boris Tadić in new presidential election"s, while Blagojević said that the campaign was "a good indication of how many votes SNS can count on receiving in future elections".

Serbia “to convince British courts” in Ganić case

2010-04-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Belgrade/London, April 10. 2010 (Source:B92) - War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević said that he would do everything possible to convince the London courts to extradite Ejup Ganić to Serbia. Vukčević will be attending a hearing in London on Tuesday, at which the extradition will be discussed.The former president of the Bosnia-Herzegovina presidency, Ganić, is suspected by Serbia of having committed war crimes in Sarajevo. The London courts must decide whether he will stand trial in Sarajevo or Belgrade. “We are constantly communicating with the prosecution in Great Britain. I don’t want to put pressure on the English court in any way. All decisions of the English legislature will be respected by our institutions,” Vukčević told daily Politika. Asked if he believes that Ganić would stand trial if he is extradited to Sarajevo, Vukčević said, “Many problems could occur if he stands trial in Bosnia.” “Firstly, the main problem is the problem of a fair and just trial which is needed for the satisfaction of the victims. If it is true that the president of the Bosnian Supreme Court said ‘We are all Ganić,’ then I have a reason to question the objectivity of a trial in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” Vukčević said.

Interior ministry, US security structures to continue cooperation

2010-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, 8 April 2010 – (Serbia Today) - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic met today with US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. During the meeting they voiced their pleasure with the cooperation between the Serbian Ministry of the Interior and US security structures in the fight against organized crime and terrorism and agreed that this cooperation should continue. Dacic informed Steinberg about the political situation in Serbia, underlining that the government is stable and that all coalition The Minister said that Serbia has established good cooperation with countries in the region, which is a precondition for a successful fight against crime. The Ministry of the Interior also desires good cooperation with representatives of the international community in Kosovo-Metohija, namely the Kfor, UNMIK and EULEX, because it is Serbia’s goal to maintain peace and security for all citizens. They also discussed the participation of Serbian police officers in EU peace missions and the increase in their number in Haiti. Dacic thanked the US embassy in Belgrade for endorsing the ministry’s work through a number of projects.
partners wish to preserve it until the end of the mandate.

Prosecutor: Officials to face investigations

2010-04-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April, 05, 2010 (Source: B92) - Organized Crime Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljević says that investigations will be launched soon against some heads of public companies. The probes would focus on corruption, he told Belgrade daily Blic. Radisavljević also revealed that early procedures were ongoing against "some officials from public companies and the judiciary", and expects that investigations would start in a month's time. The prosecutor, who since January has jurisdiction over investigating corruption cases, said that the names of the possible suspects would be given once requests for investigations against them had been submitted.

Radisavljević also noted that "there are no untouchables" when it comes to fighting organized crime, and that the prosecution expects to be supported by successful performances of other state bodies, "above all the police". The prosecutor said that his office had set continued financial investigation into Darko Šarić's crime group as its priority. Šarić and his gang are suspected of attempting to smuggle 2.7 tons of cocaine from South America to Europe last year. Radisavljević explained that the investigation against them must be completed by mid-April, and that this is when it must be decided if indictments will be raised against the group. He voiced optimism that this would happen, and said the investigation, which saw Serbia cooperate with Uruguay, Argentina, and also Italy and other European countries, had produced "convicting evidence". According to Radisavljević, that investigation would expand to include other suspects. However, he did not wish to provide any other details.

There is no alternative but to arrest Mladic

2010-04-10T03:07:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, April 02. 2010 ( Serbia Today ) - The Chief Prosecutor of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Serge Brammertz said that his report on Serbia's cooperation with the Tribunal will be completed by the end of May and at this point does not know what will be like. “The fact that the previous report was positive does not mean that you will automatically be the next, because it is a new assessment, "he said in an interview with Vecernje news. Brammertz said that the arrest of the remaining fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic has no alternatives. In recent statements that could be seen that every time there was an improvement, in various areas of cooperation. I am aware that the next report is waiting with impatience, but now it is too early to speak about it, he added. According to him there is a good professional cooperation with Serbia. I hope to continue that everything will be done to fugitives be arrested. There's no alternative. As for the evaluation, I really want to be careful, "he said.All observers in and outside the tribunal agree that the policy of conditionality is an important factor and gave results. All agree that, especially with the support and encouragement from the EU, made significant progress in the former Yugoslavia. We would, therefore, that the EU continue with this approach, but must accurately separate court, the technical process, on the one hand, and the process of political decision-making, on the other. We all agree that the primary responsibility for the arrest of fugitives in the region, in general, and now especially in Serbia. I know that the Serbian authorities are working actively on this issue, which was confirmed by the operational meetings, he said.

MPs adopt Srebrenica declaration

2010-04-10T03:05:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, April 01. 2010 (Source: B92) - After 13 hours of debate on Tuesday, the Serbian parliament adopted the declaration condemning the 1995 Srebrenica crime. The declaration condemned the crime against Bosniak (Muslim) residents of the town in the way determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Of the 250 MPs, a majority of 127 – one more than the needed 126 – voted in favor of the resolution. Of the present MPs, 21 voted against the resolution, one abstained. Representatives of the opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) did not vote. MPs of the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), New Serbia (NS), and Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) voted against the resolution. Along with condemning the Srebrenica crimes, the resolution calls for all countries of the former Yugoslavia to adopt similar resolutions condemning crimes committed against Serbs during the war and continue the process of reconciliation and strengthening conditions for living together, based on an equality of nationalities and the full respect of human and minority rights and freedoms, to make sure that such crimes never repeat themselves. The preamble of the resolution mentions the international acts that the parliament cited in the resolution, among them the Serbian Constitution and the universal UN resolution on human rights. Parliament also showed support with the resolution to institutions dealing with processing war criminal and for the conclusion of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, which includes the arrest and extradition of fugitive Ratko Mladić. The parliamentary collegium, which Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović scheduled for Thursday, will discuss the resolution for condemning crimes committed against Serbs on the territory of the former Yugoslavia during the war. Đukić-Dejanović said that the ruling coalition has drafted the first version of the resolution and added that the draft will be sent to the parliament very soon.

MPs adopt Srebrenica declaration

2010-04-09T08:12:00.001-07:00

There is no alternative but to arrest Mladic

2010-04-09T08:09:00.001-07:00

SNS will submit on Wednesday the first one million signatures

2010-04-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

By: Milen Vesovic
Belgrade, March, 31 2010 (Serbia Today) - Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) will hand over to the Government of Serbia on Wednesday March 31, the first million signatures collected as a petition to call for the new Parliamentary Elections. The president of the Party Tomislav Nikolic will deliver the signatures personally. Member of the legal team of SNS, Nikola Selakovic, said at the News Conference that the Party is continuing to collect signatures.
Selaković pointed out that there are many reasons for new Elections, primarily economic ones. The resignation of the Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Radovan Jelasic, confirms that the Regime disunities in the implementation of monetary policy. Selakovic mentioned as evidence of bad economic policy that every hour in Serbia 58 employees lose their jobs.
"That is what Government Officials have seriously to consider, and make for them one maybe difficult move, which may be the most honest and best move for the whole of Serbia, and that is to agree on Elections," said Selakovic.

No changes in Srebrenica text

2010-04-06T03:54:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, March, 30. 2010 (Source: B92) - The Srebrenica declaration text cannot be essentially changed and could be debate in parliament as soon as on Tuesday, said Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović yesterday. “This declaration text cannot be essentially modified. There are two possibilities – either to vote on the present text, or for it to be withdrawn, and that for a new document to be made,” she told Belgrade daily Blic. The speaker added that MPs could discuss the proposed text but that they could not submit amendments, as is the case with draft laws. Đukić-Dejanović could not confirm whether the resolution would be put up for voting today, she said that she was not ruling out that possibility. The newspaper reported that it was also possible that the opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) would vote in favor of the declaration draft, but added that the final decision would be made ahead of the parliament session today.

Serbia’s priority EU candidate status before mid-2011

2010-04-05T03:56:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March, 27. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic stated today that Serbia’s priority is to acquire EU candidate status before the middle of 2011 and develop the capacity to access all elements of the EU budget.

Following a meeting with representatives of the Council of Europe Western Balkans Committee, led by head of the European Commission delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert, Djelic stressed that Serbia’s goal is to continue reforms in the judiciary, combat organized crime and corruption, protect competition and take an active part in the drafting of the Danube Strategy. He said that he proposed that at the “EU–Western Balkans” conference, scheduled for June in Sarajevo, one of the key topics should be the perspective of the Western Balkans before 2020, in order to harmonize the plans for this part of the Balkans with those of the EU. The Deputy Prime Minister said that Serbia will prepare this proposal and present its programme for the next ten years, adding that the official Belgrade will formulate proposals to address the strategy for Roma inclusion and the issue of refugees. Degert stressed that the EU is working together with Serbia on financial, economic and political aspects of development, adding that during their three-day stay in Belgrade the EU delegation will discuss these issues with Serbian representatives. We want to help, especially with regard to ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and the procedures regarding the candidate status for EU membership, he said, adding that it is important that members of the Union are familiar with the political, economic and social aspects in Serbia.

Parliament Collegium to discuss Srebrenica

2010-03-31T01:45:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, March, 25. 2010 (Source : Tanjug) - Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović scheduled the first meeting of the Parliament Collegium for Wednesday. It will discuss the final draft of the Srebrenica resolution. At the meeting of the parliamentary body established by the recently passed Law on Parliament, political groups are expected to find common ground on the declaration and end speculation on its contents and how the crime in Srebrenica will be treated. Đukić- Dejanović announced that the declaration will be on the parliament's agenda in late March or early April.

Tadic and Josipovic met

2010-03-31T01:42:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March, 25. 2010 (Source : B92) - B92 has learned from its sources in Belgrade and Zagreb that Boris Tadić and Ivo Jospovićl met in the Croatian seaside resort of Opatija. According to this, two presidents met yesterday at noon. This is their first encounter since Jospović was inaugurated as Croatian president earlier this year. The meeting was informal, and they focused on bilateral ties between the two countries, the sources said.

Serbian government successful in achieving its foreign policy priorities

2010-03-29T02:52:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March, 24. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated today that the Serbian government does not accept Kosovo's statehood nor the centralization of Bosnia-Herzegovina contrary to the will of the people and entities and that Serbia is a militarily neutral country. Jeremic, who gave a lecture at the Megatrend University in Belgrade today, stressed that economic diplomacy this year became the fourth foreign policy priority of Serbia, alongside Kosovo-Metohija, Europe and good neighborly relations. In the 21st century the state should be a much more important economic player than it had been in the period before the economic crisis, he said. One of the changes in international relations is linked to the changes in economic relations and the way international economic exchange is taking place, explained the Minister.

In 2009 the Serbian government was quite successful when it comes to achieving results related to foreign policy and foreign policy priorities, he said. We managed to question the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija and to make it relative in a way that hardly anyone could have expected at the time of the unilateral declaration of independence, said the Minister. The Serbian Foreign Minister pointed out that the number of countries that recognized Kosovo is far below the number than anyone had predicted, which is a result of thoroughly prepared, organized and energetic actions of Serbian state bodies. Jeremic recalled that Serbia opened the issue of Kosovo-Metohija before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and this is the first time in the history that legality of a unilateral declaration of independence is being examined before this court. He said that the Serbian government’s central strategic priority is EU membership and added that the last year has been the most successful so far in terms of the country’s European integration. That can be seen by the abolishment of visas, unfreezing of the Interim trade agreement and the fact that the European Commission has made the best report so far on Serbia’s progress in European integration. Serbia has good neighborly relations, although a certain number of analysts and “strong voices” in the world see the Balkans through the perspective of the 1990´s. That is a serious challenge the Serbian leadership is facing. Those people say that there are three problems in the Balkans: Kosovo, which should be supported so that circumstances could be stabilized, the second is Bosnia-Herzegovina, which should be centralized, and they also suggest that all Western Balkan states join NATO. We cannot accept Kosovo’s statehood, nor centralization of Bosnia-Herzegovina against the will of people and entities, Jeremic said. Speaking about classification into safety blocks, Serbia has decided in a democratic way to be militarily independent, Jeremic said.

Hungary, Serbia sign defense deal

2010-03-29T02:39:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March, 23. 2010 (Source: B92) - Serbian and Hungarian defense ministers Dragan Šutanovac and Imre Szekeres signed a defense cooperation agreement in Belgrade on Monday. “The agreement that was signed is a legal framework for further cooperation in cartography, education and exchange of experiences in the fields of peacekeeping missions, and the development of military-economic cooperation,” Šutanovac said. Szekeres said that the agreement will enable cooperation in the joint control of air space and military aid in emergency situations related to natural disasters. The Hungarian minister said that the reforms that Serbia is implementing in its military are an important step for its European integration. He said that Hungary completely supports Serbia’s European integration. Šutanovac said Budapest will support Serbia’s European path and that Hungary will not decrease the number of troops it has serving in KFOR. Szekeres added that it is very important for Hungary to maintain stability in the region, which is why its troops will remain in Kosovo. “Hungary agrees with withdrawing of the troops out only when all (security) conditions have been fulfilled,” Szekeres said. Šutanovac noted that Hungary transitioned to a completely professional organization of their military system five years ago and that it offered help to Serbia in the reforms of the defense system. “The Hungarian Army is organized in the most avant-garde way of all regional armies," Šutanovac was heard saying. "We believe that the Serbian Army will be organized in that way and that we will be able to increase the speed of Serbia’s integration."

Support of Non-Aligned Movement for solution to Kosovo necessary

2010-03-25T06:06:00.000-07:00

Belgrade/Manila, March, 19. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic expressed deep gratitude to member states of the Non-Aligned Movement today in Manila, of which the majority did not recognize the independence of Kosovo. He called on them to keep that position and support Serbia’s efforts to find solution for its southern province through dialogue.

Your resoluteness to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia deserves true respect, Jeremic said in the speech at the special ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Serbian Foreign Minister said that owing to efforts of the Movement’s member states, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to give advisory opinion on the legality of the unilaterally-proclaimed independence of Kosovo, which is the first such case in the history of that court. It is of crucial importance that you remain faithful to your principled position because this case will be a very important precedent, Jeremic said, adding that the court’s decision will have sweeping consequences to the entire international community. He warned that in case the Court proclaims legitimate the unilateral separation of an ethic minority from an UN member states, borders of every multiethnic state might be jeopardized which would cause instability in the entire world. Jeremic said that by supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an UN member state, as well as a just solution to the status of the southern Serbian province, the Movement’s member states will make international law remain obstacle to present and future separatists, who dream of Kosovo’s secession becoming a globally accepted norm. He added that Serbia is the leading advocate of reconciliation in the south-eastern Europe. We had the courage for a national re-examination in order to face crimes from the past. We believe that is the only way to cut the vicious circle of violence and hatred in our part of the world, the Serbian foreign minister said. For that reason, Serbian President Boris Tadic apologized for the crimes committed by the previous Serbian regime in the wars in the former Yugoslavia and visited Srebrenica for the 10th anniversary of the massacre, Jeremic explained. He added that the Serbian parliament will soon examine a resolution for condemning the Srebrenica crime. We hope that will enable us to make a full reconciliation with Bosnian Muslims, Jeremic said. He reiterated Serbia’s proposal to hold in Belgrade in June 2011 a special conference of the Non-aligned Movement for the occasion of the 50th anniversary from the first, inaugural meeting of that organization that was held also in Belgrade in 1961. Serbia, the direct successor of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, now has the status of observer in this organization which has over one hundred member states.

Djelic announces economic agreement with Poland

2010-03-24T03:33:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, March, 18. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic announced today that Serbian President Boris Tadic will visit Warsaw next week and sign a bilateral economic agreement with Poland. Addressing the business forum of Serbian and Polish businessmen in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), he said that Poland is the only country in Europe which last year had a positive economic growth and is positioned sixth among the economies of Europe. Djelic said that cooperation between Poland and Serbia is not at a satisfactory level and that the volume of trade and investment should be increased. The Deputy Prime Minister said that Poland in the last 20 years has attracted €100 billion in investments. According to the data from PKS, in 2009 the value of total trade between Poland and Serbia amounted to $345 million, with Serbian exports worth $67.3 million while imports from Poland amounted to $277.7 million.

Kacin Says Participation in Summit up to Serbia

2010-03-23T03:40:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March,18. 2010 (Source : Beta) - Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and European Parliamentary reporter for Serbia Jelko Kacin agreed in Belgrade, that Serbia had visibly progressed in meeting its obligations in the process of joining the EU. The two officials agreed that in the future the process would largely depend on International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's report, a statement from Parliament said, adding that Serbian Parliament had developed "lively parliamentary activity," not just in the region, but in many EU members states as well.Djukic Dejanovic stressed that it was particularly important that major steps had been made toward enhancing parliamentary cooperation with parliaments in the ex-Yugoslavia. Late on March 16, Kacin met with parliamentary Committee on European Integrations chairman Laszlo Varga, who told him that "Serbia has begun preparations for filling out the European Commission's questionnaire," and that a law on parliament had been passed. At a joint news conference, Kacin declined to say whether a regional summit on the European future of the Western Balkans scheduled to be held in Slovenia on March 20 would be held if Serbia declined to participate. Even though I hold Slovenian citizenship and know something about that, I cannot and must not speak about it. There is direct communication there. Mr (Boris) Tadic knows what is going on. If he is there he will be seen by everyone, all of Europe, and if not, no one will see him, Kacin said. The question that needs to be answered is whether Serbia can bring the region together or that's only an illusion that we eternally dream of, with no progress, Kacin added. When asked by reporters whether Serbia's recognition of Kosovo was a condition for its membership in the EU, Kacin said none of Europe's institutions were posing this question. "Serbia is occupying itself with this question. This question is always posed publicly by your politicians and not ours... Sorry, this is a Serbian thing. It's not the EU's stance," a visibly irritated Kacin replied.

Fuele in Belgrade

2010-03-23T02:36:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, March, 17. 2010 (Source :Beta) - EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele will pay his first visit to Belgrade on March 17, at the beginning of his regional tour, the EU Delegation to Serbia said on March 15. "I hope that Serbia will remain committed to reforms," Fuele said ahead of the visit, adding: "Reforms are to the benefit of Serbia's citizens but not solely because of the country's accession to the EU." In Belgrade, Fuele will meet with President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, according to the statement. The commissioner will also talk with the justice and finance ministers, Snezana Malovic and Diana Dragutinovic, as well as with Public Administration and Local Self-Government Minister Milan Markovic. The meetings will address ways to boost Serbia's accession to the EU and present views on the possibility of initiating the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, which would enable Serbia to receive the status of a candidate country, sources from the European Commission in Brussels told BETA. During his tour, Fuele will meet with officials in Podgorica, Sarajevo, Pristina and Tirana.

Serbian, Kuwait bilateral relations excellent

2010-03-22T07:26:00.001-07:00

Belgrade/Kuwait, March, 17. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic met with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Cvetkovic, who is on a two-day visit to Kuwait, also talked with Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Jassem Al-Kharafi and Chairman of the Kuwaiti Chamber of Industry and Commerce Ali Thunayan Al-Ghanim. The Serbian Prime Minister said that bilateral relations between the two countries are excellent and that economic cooperation should be improved. He said that trade exchange with Kuwait is very low and it should be increased and also that Kuwaiti investors should be encouraged to come to Serbia. Serbian companies should also offer their services to Kuwait, he said. Cvetkovic thanked Kuwaiti officials for not recognising the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, thus contributing to the defence of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Representatives of the Serbian government delegation, which included Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic, held a meeting tonight with political and economic officials of Kuwait and signed agreements on cooperation in the areas of health and air transport.

The agreement on cooperation in the field of health care encourages an exchange of experiences in health administration, public health, emergency medical assistance and cooperation between the two countries in the field of medical research. The agreement on air transport provides a legal framework and basic conditions for air traffic between Serbia and Kuwait. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Kuwaiti investment funds and funds for economic development. After signing the documents, the Prime Minister of Kuwait organised a dinner for the Serbian delegation, which was also attended by representatives of diplomatic corps in Kuwait. During his stay in Kuwait, Cvetkovic will attend a ceremony of awarding of diplomas to university graduates who completed their studies in the 2008/2009 school year. Also, Cvetkovic will visit the headquarters of the Kuwait Oil Company in Ahmadi and scientific centre for research and exploitation of oil.

Dacic to visit Great Britain

2010-03-18T05:19:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March, 16. 2010 (Serbia Today) – First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic and his associates will be in Great Britain from 15 to 18 March.

The Ministry says in a statement that Dacic will meet with British Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business Lord Davies, State Under Secretary for Security and Counter-terrorism Lord West, Director General of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) Bill Hughes, Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Minister for Europe Chris Bryant. The First Deputy Prime Minister will also visit the Olympic Village in London.

"Visa liberalization not jeopardized"

2010-03-18T03:42:00.001-07:00

Belgrade, March, 12. 2010 (Source: Beta) - Interior Minister Ivica Dačić announced an investigation into the organized departure of Serbian citizens who sought political asylum in the EU countries.
He said that in the first two months of this year, the EU countries had sent Serbia 478 requests for the return of individuals, and that positive responses had been given to 304 requests, while 156 had received a negative response, with 18 in process of investigation. The minister stated that it was clear that those who left from the south of Serbia to Belgium and Sweden to seek political asylum would not get it, and that they would returned. He added that it concerned 400 people, mostly ethnic Albanians and a small number of Romas, who sought asylum in Belgium, and between 500 and 600 who tried to achieve the same status in Sweden. According to Dačić, it has been agreed that Macedonia and Serbia investigate whether there were elements of crime, considering that the organized departure of those persons was always "by the same bus lines". He stated that those buses were departing from Macedonia and picking up passengers in southern Serbia along the way.
The interior minister pointed out that Serbia will be very cooperative when it came to readmission and stated that he expected that the asylum-seeker controversy "would not jeopardize the visa liberalization with the EU countries". Late last year, Serbia was put on the so-called white Schengen list, allowing Serbians to travel to most EU countries without visas. Now Dačić explained that visa liberalization "did not mean a right to receive asylum or work and live in EU member states". Dačić explained that the asylum seekers claimed that they did not have any documents and added that Serbia accepted their return, "if it has been proven that they are citizens of Serbia". According to him, Serbia received a total of 2,191 readmission requests from authorities in the EU countries in 2009. He added that 1,423 were given positive responses, while more than 700 were denied because there was no proof that persons meant to be sent back to Serbia were in fact Serbian citizens.

Serbia sends Ganić extradition request

2010-03-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March, 11 2010 (Source: Beta) - The Serbian Justice Ministry stated that it sent a demand for the extradition Ejup Ganić to the British authorities.
The demand and court documentation was sent for the 64-year-old former Muslim wartime member of Bosnia's presidency to be handed over to the Belgrade High Court in order to finish the process led against him. A British court that refused to free Ganić on bail earlier this month stated that Serbia must send the documentation for his extradition by April 7. Ganić was arrested in London on March 1, on a Serbian warrant. He and 18 other Bosnian nationals are wanted in Serbia in connection to the Dobrovoljačka St. massacre. In May 1992, a retreating Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) convoy was attacked in this Sarajevo street. Scores of JNA soldiers and officers were killed or injured as a result. Serbia's judicial authorities launched an investigation against Ganić in December of 2008 under suspicion that he, along with others, directly issued orders to attack JNA facilities in Sarajevo – including a military hospital, the JNA Center, a convoy of ambulance vehicles, and the army convoy in Dobrovoljačka St.

All these attacks came despite a previous agreement that was to allow JNA units to peacefully retreat from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The investigation order saw Ganić accused on three counts – war crimes against injured and ill persons, illegal killing and injuring of enemy combatants, and use of illegal means of combat. Ganić was born in Serbia, near the town of Novi Pazar. He entered politics as member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Party of Reformed Forces, was elected into the Bosnian presidency in 1990, and was also the president of the crisis council at the beginning of the war in 1992. As a member of the presidency and the vice-president of the post-war Federation of Bosnia, Ganić made his first official visit to then Yugoslavia on July 23, 1996, meeting with then president of Serbia Slobodan Milošević. He was the Federation president from December 28, 1999 to February 28, 2001. Former Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte confirmed on June 3, 2004 that the tribunal was conducting an investigation against Ganić.

No agreement about Slovenia conference

2010-03-16T02:51:00.001-07:00

Pristina, March, 10. 2010 (Source: Beta) - Slovenian PM Borut Pahor that disputes have not been settled concerning a conference of the region’s leaders. He spoke in Priština after meeting with the Kosovo Albanian Prime minister Hashim Thaci, Beta news agency reported. Pahor said he would "like to see all the region's leaders in Slovenia, including Serbian President Boris Tadić and Thaci". Following Belgrade's demand that Priština officials appear under the name "UNMIK-Kosovo," the representation of states as well as a joint declaration remain problematic. "At this moment, I cannot say that all problems concerning the conference organization have been settled," Pahor stressed. He went on to say that diplomatic efforts will continue in order to ensure the presence of all Balkan leaders who would discuss the region's European future with EU leaders. "It is however not the only problem we are facing," Pahor noted, adding: "You imagine us at the end of the conference wishing to adopt a declaration on the EU future of the Western Balkans and imagine what a job would it be to compose a declaration acceptable to all." Thaci did not specify Priština's official position concerning its desire to take part as an equal state, but confirmed Kosovo's readiness to take part in all international initiatives and regional conferences.

No pressure from USA to join NATO

2010-03-16T02:47:00.000-07:00

Belgrade, March, 10 2010 (Source: Tanjug) - Serbian Army (VS) CoGS Lt.-Gen. Miloje Miletić says there is no pressure from the U.S. to change Serbia's view on NATO and join that organization. Miletić described his recent visit to the U.S. as very positive. Miletić told B92 TV on Monday evening that the American officials he met with are aware that the Serbian Parliament has adopted a resolution on military neutrality and that the country has opted to cooperate with NATO through the Partnership for Peace program. The Serbian Army chief stated that his Hungarian counterpart was also there during the visit, and that the three sides discussed the possibilities of trilateral cooperation, which would involve improving military capabilities.
According to Miletić, they agreed that the cooperation would include crisis response planning, air force and peace operations, as well as the professional development of officers. Speaking about Kosovo, he said that the province remains the greatest security risk for Serbia and in the region. "The problem does not require a military engagement, but the situation is a cause for concern which requires a solution," said Miletić. Instability in Kosovo can be transferred to the region, especially southern Serbia, northern Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, he said. Asked whether he was satisfied with cooperation with KFOR, Miletić said he was, although it abandoned the framework of neutrality through some of its decisions regarding implementation of Ahtisaari's plan and its decision to take part in forming the Kosovo Security Forces. "This is one of the reasons why the cooperation between the Serbian Army and KFOR was somewhat reduced, to a technical level," he said.

Any attempt at abusing Schengen regime will be punished

2010-03-11T08:34:00.001-08:00

Belgrade, March 04, 2010 (Serbia Today) – Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic announced on Monday punishments and the firm implementation of the Readmission Agreement for all those who abuse or attempt to abuse the liberal Belgian law regarding political asylum. Appearing in the Kaziprst show on RTV B92, Djelic stressed that anyone who abuses the Schengen regime jeopardizes the freedom of all Serbian citizens, warning that those who are repatriated on the basis of the Readmission Agreement will face even more difficulties with every future attempt to enter the Schengen countries. He stated that according to current data, around 300 persons made an organized attempt to abuse the liberal Belgian law regarding political asylum. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the visa-free regime for Serbian citizens will not be jeopardized because of Belgium’s objections regarding an increased number of asylum seekers from southern Serbia, reiterating that all of them will be repatriated. Speaking on this week’s visit of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Djelic said that they discussed Serbia's EU integration, economic cooperation as well as employment visas for Serbian citizens in EU countries. Djelic reiterated that Serbia is an important unit of stability in the Western Balkans and has powerful arguments in defending its own integrity. Djelic also added that Serbia’s arguments for finding a compromised solution for the southern province are becoming stronger.

More active engagement of OSCE high commissioner on national minorities needed in Kosovo

2010-03-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

Belgrade, March 04, 2010 (Serbia Today) – Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic said during the talks with OSCE High Commissioner on national minorities Knut Vollebeak that he expressed appreciation for his activities in the field of protection of human rights and the building of trust between different ethnic communities in Kosovo-Metohija. Bogdanovic said that the Serbian side believes that it is of high importance that the activities of the OSCE high commissioner are in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and in an unbiased framework in relation to the province’s status. The Minister for Kosovo-Metohija reminded him of the difficulties with which all non-Albanian communities in Kosovo-Metohija are faced. He appealed to the active engagement of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Vollebaek expressed the hope that the situation of all minority communities in Kosovo-Metohija will improve. He especially pointed to specific activities in providing adequate education. Bogdanovic and Vollebaek expressed their willingness to invest joint efforts in improving the status of non-Albanian communities in Kosovo-Metohija, the statement added.

Kouchner says “Independence of Kosovo irreversible”

2010-03-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

Pristina, March 03, 2010 (Serbia Today) – During his visit to Pristina, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Priština that "Kosovo independence is irreversible as far as France is concerned". Kouchner was received like an old friend by the Kosovo Albanian political elite and was given the opportunity to address the assembly in Priština, B 92 reporters. In his address, he declared that "Kosovo independence represents a historic event which cannot be stopped or changed". He encouraged Kosovo leaders to begin a dialog with Serbia, "because that is the only path that leads to the EU". "I don't know the hour or date, but I know that one day, Kosovo and Serbia will be in the European Union, as independent and friendly countries. It would be an illusion to think that we can move towards Europe while not allowing a neighboring country to go the same route," he said. Kouchner commended the recent local elections in Kosovo, stating that they "show that Serbs in Kosovo are ready to offer an active role in their futures in Kosovo". "A lot of time has passed since my last visit in April 2007, and this route can be described with one word: independence. In the name of France, I wish to say that your independence is not being questioned, it is a historical event and nothing can change history, which is something everyone should accept," Kouchner said. Kosovo Albanian leaders said that "France played a large role in offering help after the conflicts and contributing to Kosovo's independence". Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that "Kosovo is dedicated to good neighborly relations with Serbia". "It is in the interest of our stability, regional cooperation and our European perspective, to leave the past with Serbia behind. The status question has ended and I believe that the whole world knows this," Thaci said. During the second day of his Kosovo visit, Kouchner met with senior officials of the international community in Priština, after which he visited the newly-formed Serb municipality of Gračanica.

Dacic to visit Norway

2010-03-09T02:39:00.000-08:00

Belgrade, March 02, 2010 (Serbia Today) – First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic will be in Norway on 2 and 3 March. On the first day of the visit Minister Dacic will meet with Minister of Justice Knut Sturberget, to discuss cooperation in the fight against organized crime and corruption. Afterwards, he will meet with Speaker of the Norwegian parliament Dag Terje Andersen. On the second day Dacic will visit the National Police Directorate and talk with Director Ingellin Kilengreen about the cooperation between Serbian and Norwegian police forces and police reform. Dacic will conclude his visit to Norway with a tour of the National Criminal Investigation Service.