Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia: daily survey of 30 April 2009

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

 OSCE: WORK ON INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION PROMOTION

SERBIA

TADIC ANNOUNCES AMENDMENTS TO SERBIAN CONSTITUTION

BELGRADE, April 29 (Beta) - President Boris Tadic has said that changes will be made to the Constitution in order to reduce the number of MPs and encourage regionalization and decentralization. In an interview with the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, Tadic said laws governing elections and the registration and financing of parties need to be amended together with parts of the Constitution, such as the section defining the number of MPs. "I personally see no reason why Serbia should have 250 MPs, because 150 are enough for a country this size," Tadic said. He linked the problem of excessive government with the current election law, which "allows a large number of parties to participate in elections, enter Parliament with ease and set conditions for entry in the government." "That is how three party lists ended up having 15 parties. And each has its own obligations to voters," Tadic said when asked whether reducing the number of ministries will be abandoned after the Socialist Party of Serbia’s statement that the government would not be this large if a different agreement could have been reached. "Even if there are no essential savings in cutting the size of the government, that is an important message to the citizens that the government is able to save money and is aware of the need to do so. That is why the talks on government downsizing continue," Tadic said.

CVETKOVIC: GOVT MAKING BEST MOVES IN TIMES OF CRISIS

BELGRADE, April 30 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic is optimistic that the adopted government measures will yield the expected results, and said other measures are also being considered but least of all concerning an increase of the value added tax. "We had major fiscal adapting and we should now see what the monetary policy can do. I am optimistic and I believe the adopted measures will have the expected effects. People must know that an increase in the VAT will be the last measure to which we will resort," Cvetkovic said in an interview for the Belgrade daily Blic published on Thursday. The other package of measures will be presented "with a coordinated fiscal and monetary policy," Cvetkovic said. Commenting on the remark that the government was faced with a protest by trade unions ahead of the upcoming May 1 holidays, and before that with dramatic moves by striking workers in Raska - all manifestations of the dissatisfaction of citizens affected by the economic crisis, Cvetkovic said a crisis always causes problems but that the government has the answer. "Trade unions have the right to protest, but there is no constructive proposal that they made that has not been accepted. I accepted with pleasure everything meaningful that was considered at the Social Economic Council," the prime minister said. "A crisis is always a cause of dissatisfaction and I cannot expect applause, but I am absolutely calm because we are making the best moves," Prime Minister Cvetkovic said.

JEREMIC: WE HAVE SUPPORT TO PREVENT NEW KOSOVO RECOGNITIONS

HAVANA, April 29 (Beta) - Serbia continues its struggle to prevent new countries from recognizing the independence of Kosovo, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on April 29 in Havana, where he is attending a Nonaligned Movement ministerial meeting. According to Jeremic, a certain number of countries, headed by Saudi Arabia, is lobbing for the recognition of Kosovo, adding that the Serbian delegation is continuing its struggle to prevent that from happening. "We have the support of a considerable number of countries and 118 countries are present here, that is, twothirds of the U.N. member states. We are fighting to prevent new acknowledgments of Kosovo’s independence, although Kosovo has support from very strong states," Jeremic said in a statement to national broadcaster RTS. The ministers added that one of the meeting’s most important topics is the global economic crisis and ways in which the Nonaligned Movement members and observers, one of which is Serbia, "can help each other on the bilateral level." "Our country once had extremely good relations with a large number of these countries, which we have neglected, but are renewing now. These 118 countries are far more powerful economically than they were before, which is an economic opportunity for us," the minister explained. Jeremic added that when addressing the meeting, he will present Belgrade’s candidacy to host the Nonaligned Movement conference in 2011 on the 50th anniversary of the movement’s founding.

INTEGRATION OFFICE SAYS SAA IMPORTANT STEP ON ROAD TO EU.

BELGRADE, April 29 (Beta) - The signing and implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU are important on Serbia’s European path and will lead to a more orderly, stable and prosperous society, the European Integration Office announced on April 29, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the signing of the SAA. The office said that, even though the implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement and its ratification are waiting for the Council of Ministers’ green light, the government as of Jan. 30, 2009 formally started implementing the traderelated part of the agreement. "Implementation of the agreement is very important for Serbia, given that its main economic element is the creation of a free trade zone between Serbia and the EU," the office says. The office goes on to say the EU is traditionally Serbia’s most important economic partner, accounting for more than half of overall foreign trade. "Given that the countries of the Central European Free Trade Agreement, who are also looking forward to EU membership, are the second most important export market for Serbia, one can easily reach the conclusion that over 80 percent of Serbian exports will be EUbound in the future," added the office. It recalled that, although the EU has not begun formally implementing the SAA yet, Serbian products enjoy beneficial treatment in European markets. Since November 2000, the EU has been applying a duty-free trade arrangement with Serbia, which means that exports to the EU have not been subject to tariffs for eight years now. HAMMARBERG: SERBIA MAKING PROGRESS IN HUMAN RIGHTS

STRASBOURG, April 29 (Beta) - Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg said in Strasbourg on April 29 that Serbia has made some progress in improving human rights, especially in legislation and determining procedures for human rights protection. "I believe that there has been progress in Serbia in terms of legislation and creating procedures for human rights protection. I think that the Office of the Ombudsman has started out very well, it has skilled personnel, but needs more funding," Hammarberg told a news conference. He added that human rights problems still exist in Serbia, giving as an example the position of the Roma community, particularly its displaced members. Hammarberg recalled a recent incident involving the eviction of Roma from a slum in New Belgrade, saying that the problem was caused by poor planning and procedures. He added that the Roma were notified of the eviction, but on short notice. He further said that such incidents happen in other European countries as well, adding that it is necessary for a new approach to be used. The commissioner added that during his recent visit to Kosovo, he brought up several issues, including Kosovo’s Roma community.

SKUNDRIC: SERBIA IS ONE STEP AWAY FROM ENERGY CHARTER TREATY

BELGRADE, April 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Skundric stated Wednesday that Serbia is one step away from becoming a full member of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), adding that this will enable the Serbian energy area to be fully integrated in the European flows, which will further lead to the country’s EU accession. At a news conference on Serbian energy integration and accession to the ECT held in the Serbian government, Skundric said that by signing the Charter Serbia will become a part of the integrated energy market in Europe and Eurasia, and will more easily join the World Trade Organization. The minister announced that Serbia will soon completely harmonize the national legislative acts in the energy area with the norms which constitute the foundation of the Energy Charter and stressed that there are no major differences between ECT norms and the Serbian legislature in the energy sector. The Secretary General of the Energy Charter Andre Mernier said that the first step has been made towards Serbia’s membership in the Energy Charter, and that is the invitation of the member states for Serbia to join the ECT. Serbia’s next step is to carry out a compatibility study of the national plan and the provisions of the Energy Charter, and then to ratify the Charter in the National parliament, Mernier underscored.

CONDITIONS PROVIDED FOR SIGNING OF SOUTH STREAM AGREEMENT

BELGRADE, April 29 (Tanjug) - Minister of Energy Petar Skundric said on Wednesday that now that all the outstanding issues regarding the South Stream gas pipeline project had been clarified between Bulgaria and the Russian Federation, conditions had been provided for the reaching of an agreement and signing of inter-state and inter-company agreements between the countries that were involved in the project and the Russian Gazprom company. Speaking at a press conference in the Serbian government building, Skundric said that all preparations had been completed for the signing of the agreement between Srbijagas and Gazrom at an inter-state level. He added that at the recent energy conference in Sofia, it had been concluded that the countries involved in the South Stream project should hold a special conference, at which corresponding documents would be signed.

JELASIC: PEAK OF CRISIS YET TO COME

NOVI SAD, April 30 (Tanjug) - National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Governor Radovan Jelasic said on Thursday that the actual financial results of the decelerated economic activities have yet to be faced, since the economic crisis has so far shown mostly its psychological effects. "We will be compelled to take additional measures" in the event that income from the value added tax, customs and taxes on income and profit are significantly reduced, the governor told the Novi Sad daily Dnevnik. The economic situation in the country in the second half of the year and the first revision by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are of crucial importance, he stressed. The objective of the first revision is "to draw the line after the first six months and, depending on the findings, to assess whether new measures are necessary, Governor Jelasic said. The second key challenge is the question whether the gross domestic product will drop by two percent or much more, he said. KOSOVO AND METOHIJA – SITUATION, REACTIONS

BOGDANOVIC: AGREEMENT MUST BE HONORED IN MITROVICA DISTRICT BELGRADE, April 29 (Beta) - Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic said on April 29 that the problem of the Brdjani district in northern Kosovska Mitrovica must be solved by peaceful means. He noted that the reconstruction of Albanian houses located in the buffer zone between the northern and southern parts of town cannot begin without the approval of the Serb community. In a statement to BETA, Bogdanovic recalled that in Brdjani, where KFOR troops used stun grenades and tear gas against protesting Serbs on April 29, an agreement was conclude in 2000 according to which reconstruction of damaged houses required agreement between the Serb and Albanian communities. The minister said this agreement was imposed nine years ago by the Albanians in order to stop the return of Serbs to the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. "Now the Albanians violated this agreement and we are in a situation where people have already been hurt. We did everything we could to calm the situation and for local Serbs to meet with representatives of KFOR and EULEX," he said. He went on to say that Serbs in Kosovska Mitrovica were promised on April 28 that part of the KFOR detachment in the town would withdraw and repair efforts in the buffer zone would stop. "There can be building outside this zone and Serbs are not against that. I expect an agreement, despite everything," Bogdanovic said. Some one hundred Serbs from Brdjani on April 29 attempted to reach the yellow separation zone, where the reconstruction of Albanian houses had begun despite the agreement of the previous day. KFOR and EULEX troops responded with stun grenades and tear gas, but the demonstrators did not disperse. Three days ago, KFOR and EULEX police resorted to rubber bullets during demonstrations by Serbs and one man was injured. EULEX claimed it had to react after two hand grenades were thrown at its members.

EU CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENT PROTESTS IN KOSOVSKA MITROVICA

BRUSSELS, April 29 (Beta) - The EU is worried about recent violent protests in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica that left several people injured, the Czech EU presidency said on April 29. The EU, according to the news release, "fully supports the actions of EULEX and KFOR aimed at establishing the rule of law in Kosovo and creating a safe situation." "The EU will demand that all who endanger the lives of EULEX and KFOR personnel, or of any law abiding citizen, be brought to justice quickly," the Czech presidency said. It also pointed out that "the EU protects and supports people’s right to return to their homes and the property they legally own, regardless of their ethnic background." EU High Representative Javier Solana’s spokeswoman Cristina Gallach told BETA that order needs to be restored in Kosovo and "unacceptable violence" prevented. Gallach acknowledged Belgrade’s announcement that Serbia had nothing to do with the unrest, adding that it is necessary for Serbia to do everything it can to completely prevent any possibility of the now calmed riots starting anew.

MOSCOW: FORCIBLE ACTIONS AGAINST SERBS IN KOSOVO INADMISSIBLE

MOSCOW, Apr 29 (Tanjug) - The official Moscow on Wednesday warned that forcible actions against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are inadmissible and once again urged for observation of international law. "The escalation of tension in northern Kosovo poses a threat to security of the whole region," spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Nesterenko said at a press briefing in Moscow on Tuesday. "The unilateral proclamation of Kosovo’s independence showed that the Kosovo settlement process deadlocked, and a solution to the deadlock can be found not abetting with Pristina, but observing the international law," Nesterenko said.

MINISTRY CONTINUES TO HELP KOSOVO SERBS

BELGRADE, Apr 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian parliament Committee for Kosovo and Metohija on Wednesday backed the working plan of the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija for this year, under which the assistance to the Serb people and other non-Albanian population in the province will continue. Assistant Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Bojan Andjelkovic said that the plan implies a continuation of the activities aimed at helping Serbs and other non-Albanian population in the province to live normally. According to him, under the plan, development and employment in Kosovo and Metohija will be stimulated, as well as the property of the Serbs and other non-Albanians protected, and activities aimed at the return of the displaced will continue. He said that the ministry had allocated funds for stimulation of the economic development this year and had secured aid in construction and agricultural material, humanitarian and other assistance for Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija.

LESS MONEY FROM EXPATRIATES INDICATION OF CRISIS IN KOSOVO

PRISTINA, Apr 29 (Tanjug) - The majority population in Kosovo is receiving this year less money from their relatives abroad and this is the first indication that global recession is spreading to Kosovo too, Kosovo Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Nenad Rasic said Wednesday. Money transfers from ethnic Albanian expatriates to their relatives have been reduced by 20 percent compared to 2008, he said. The money sent by expatriates accounts for 50 percent of the inflow of money to Kosovo, he told a meeting at the Media Center in Caglavica. The Kosovo government is planning a package of measures to prevent the spreading of the global recession in Kosovo and has earmarked 200 million euros from the budget for that purpose at the recommendation of IMF, he said.

OSCE: WORK ON INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION PROMOTION

PRISTINA, April 29 (Tanjug) - Schools in Kosovo should improve intercultural education and give students from minority communities the opportunity to learn about their own culture, an OSCE statement said on Wednesday. The report on minority communities in primary and secondary educational systems in Kosovo says that the Kosovo and Serbian educational systems do not have the necessary and adequate books for subjects such as the mother tongue, history, arts and music for members of the Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Gorani, Croatian and Montenegrin ethnic communities in Kosovo. The Kosovo educational system has primary and secondary school curriculums in the Albanian, Turkish and Bosniak languages, but the curriculum in Serbian is yet to be designed. Deeper division is caused by the permanent physical separation among students, as well as the lack of sustainable efforts to promote the exchange between ethnic Albanian and Serbian teachers and students in Kosovo, the statement said.

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Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia