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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbian parliament to take a unique stand on the future course of talks on Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade, 16 February 2006

Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self- Government Zoran Loncar said that the Serbian government brought a decision today proposing that the Serbian parliament schedule an extraordinary session with only one article on the agenda, the Report on the course of talks on the political solution for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, and that at the same session a unique stand will be taken on that issue.

Zoran Loncar

Speaking at a press conference following the Serbian government’s session, Loncar said that the Serbian parliament should hold that session next week, after tomorrow’s meeting of the negotiating team for Kosovo-Metohija and after the meetings due to take place on February 20 and 21, when the first round of talks will be held in Vienna on the decentralisation of Kosovo-Metohija issue.

He explained that the Serbian government has submitted a request to hold an extraordinary session in accordance with the resolution of the Serbian parliament brought on November 21, 2005, on the mandate for political negotiations on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.

Loncar expressed hope that within the next few days a date will be determined for the extraordinary session of the parliament, at which parliament members will be informed on the talks held until that period and at which a stand will be taken on the future course of negotiations on the status of Kosovo-Metohija. This is in accordance with rules of procedure of the Serbian parliament and talks with the Serbian parliament speaker whose jurisdiction it is.

Slobodan Lalovic

Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy Slobodan Lalovic said that the government discussed the acceleration of the restructuring of Serbian public railway and forest companies Zeleznice Srbije and Srbijasume.

As part of social welfare programmes in the nine public companies that are being restructured, the government has set aside 2 billion dinars for dismissal wages, Minister Lalovic said.

He added that the restructuring of large Serbian public companies and their preparation for privatisation will be completed next year at the latest.

The Serbian government has set aside sufficient funds for the restructuring process, specifying that the exact amount is 6.5 billion dinars.

When it comes to the payment of compensation to workers under social welfare programmes, priority is given to companies that are close to privatisation, Lalovic said.

The Serbian government tries to offer an alternative through social welfare programmes to all people who remain jobless in the course of restructuring, Lalovic concluded.