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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Government deserves very positive evaluation for first 100 days

Belgrade, 14 October 2008

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said today that the Serbian government deserves a very positive evaluation for its first 100 working days and praised the continuation of EU integration, the biggest diplomatic success in its struggle for Kosovo, as well as the anti-corruption fight.

Mirko Cvetkovic at today's press conference

At a press conference held on the occasion of the first 100 days of the government, Cvetkovic said that the government managed to become well organised and to function as a team. He pointed out that all decisions were unanimous.

He recalled that the main goal while constituting the government was advocating Serbia’s EU integration, aimed at making better living standards for its citizens, and added that, in this respect, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU was ratified very quickly in the Serbian parliament.

The Prime Minister said that government’s biggest results include ratification of that agreement as well as the energy deal with Russia, the signing of the agreement with Fiat, securing funds for Corridor 10, increasing pensions by 10% and 2008 budget revision from realistic sources.

He confirmed that the government will hold a telephone session today to pass decisions related to the setting up of the joint venture with Fiat and the Serbian government, adding that the government needs to adopt certain documents for the company "Fiat-Zastava" to be set up.

Cvetkovic also expressed his hope that the gas part of the energy deal with Russia will be implemented by the end of the year.

He also said that the adoption of the Resolution seeking an advisory opinion on the legality of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija in the UN General Assembly is among their biggest diplomatic successes in the previous decades, even though the International Court of Justice will not immediately start an emergency procedure to discuss the legality of Kosovo’s independence.

I found out that the UN Resolution adopted at Serbia’s initiative will not enter emergency procedure, so we will have to wait a couple of years, Cvetkovic said and expressed regret because of that.

He reiterated that EULEX mission in Kosovo is acceptable for Serbia only if an agreement is reached that the mission’s work is grounded on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and not based on the principles of Marti Ahtisaari’s plan.

Commenting on the government’s response to the decisions of the Macedonian and Montenegrin authorities, he pointed out that none of the measures are repressive to citizens of those countries.

Those measures are diplomatic and do not represent any kind of sanctions toward the citizens of those states. We see the citizens of those states as best friends and neighbours, and also we are not taking any repressive or economic measures against those states, Cvetkovic stressed.

He also said that Serbia is attempting complete cooperation with the Hague tribunal, which was positively received by 26 out of 27 EU countries.

He said that among the most important results of the government are the fight against corruption both in the field of legislation and the operations of the Interior Ministry.

He added that the state auditing institution received its offices last week and that the government adopted the bill on the Anti-Corruption Agency and financing of political parties. Cvetkovic stressed that many results are not yet visible as they are in the process of implementation and expressed hope this cabinet will stay in office for four years in order to fulfil its set goals.

Speaking about the 2009 budget, the Prime Minister noted that it will be drafted in cooperation with IMF experts, adding that the new budget will establish a balance between development plans and the need for a socially responsible society.

The new budget will take the global crisis into account. We will probably have an arrangement with the IMF for 2009, which is of huge importance for us because of the possibility to get a loan through multilateral organisations, explained Cvetkovic and said he believes that a mutually acceptable financial framework will be achieved.

According to him, the government motto is to be socially responsible, as well as to take care of the macroeconomic stability. All the measures it has taken will be balanced between current spending and care for the future of the country.

Cvetkovic announced that at the upcoming session the government will make a decision on implementing the transitional trade agreement with the EU, which envisages gradual abolishment of customs tax on goods imported to Serbia from the EU.

He confirmed that talks are also underway with concessionaires regarding the construction of the Horgos-Pozega motorway, and added that if the concessionaire fulfils their obligations the contract on concession will be implemented as of January 1, 2009, as has been planned, whereas if they fail to do so, the contract may be terminated even earlier.

The Prime Minister added that a new deal will not be negotiated with the concessionaire in any non-transparent way.