Q:
A:
Government will prevent threats to economic stability
Belgrade,
11 February 2011
Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said in today’s interview for the Vecernje Novosti daily that the government’s four great achievements are the fact that it functioned at the time of the crisis, Serbia’s inclusion in the Schengen White List, key steps towards EU integration and the abolishment of the obligatory military service.
Author:
novosti.rs
The government’s official web site gives excerpts of this interview.
Obligations to the IMF and demands for salary increase in education, health, police:
The government will not jeopardise the state’s economic stability, regardless of demands and pressure. We have announced a platform which most of the unions accepted as a rational one. We are ready to do fulfil their demands, because we understand that people live poorly, but we cannot do so if it means jeopardising economic stability.
Will the demands of workers on strike be met and to what extent:
If we fulfilled their demands, the foreign currency exchange course and inflation would spin out of our hands. If we started paying out money we do not have, the state would not function properly.
About announcements from the Ministry of Finance regarding the distribution of surplus RSD 10 million for salaries and pensions:
If the results are better than planned and the budget continues to fill in, employees in the public sector might be granted additional funds. But I cannot tell you how much that would be. The budget inflow has been quite satisfactory over the last several months.
About economists’ claims that this fund should be used to reduce deficit instead for salaries:
This is one of the options. It is now a question of whether we will tell people who are living a hard life that we will use this money to reduce the deficit or simply give it to them.
When will citizens feel the improvement of standard announced for 2011:
We have been through two difficult years and another one is ahead – it may not be easy, but it will lead to something better. We envisaged a salary increase, which is slight, to be honest, but this is the only thing we can do at the moment. I know that no one lives on statistics, but it shows that the standard has not dropped.
About EU countries who recognised Kosovo-Metohija and invited Belgrade and Pristina to dialogue as two sovereign states. Is this acceptable for Serbia:
Our policy remains unchanged – neither implicitly nor explicitly will we recognise the province’s independence, but we are ready for dialogue. It is logical for countries that recognised Kosovo to advocate such a policy.
When will the talks begin:
Serbia is ready. We have formed a team, prepared the topics and a platform. It is up to Brussels and Pristina now.
Can we expect the beginning of an international investigation regarding Dick Marty’s report on human organ trade:
We are in constant touch with Europe regarding this issue. We are demanding a thorough, independent investigation. In this context, the credibility and capacity of EULEX is being questioned.
Obligations to the IMF and demands for salary increase in education, health, police:
The government will not jeopardise the state’s economic stability, regardless of demands and pressure. We have announced a platform which most of the unions accepted as a rational one. We are ready to do fulfil their demands, because we understand that people live poorly, but we cannot do so if it means jeopardising economic stability.
Will the demands of workers on strike be met and to what extent:
If we fulfilled their demands, the foreign currency exchange course and inflation would spin out of our hands. If we started paying out money we do not have, the state would not function properly.
About announcements from the Ministry of Finance regarding the distribution of surplus RSD 10 million for salaries and pensions:
If the results are better than planned and the budget continues to fill in, employees in the public sector might be granted additional funds. But I cannot tell you how much that would be. The budget inflow has been quite satisfactory over the last several months.
About economists’ claims that this fund should be used to reduce deficit instead for salaries:
This is one of the options. It is now a question of whether we will tell people who are living a hard life that we will use this money to reduce the deficit or simply give it to them.
When will citizens feel the improvement of standard announced for 2011:
We have been through two difficult years and another one is ahead – it may not be easy, but it will lead to something better. We envisaged a salary increase, which is slight, to be honest, but this is the only thing we can do at the moment. I know that no one lives on statistics, but it shows that the standard has not dropped.
About EU countries who recognised Kosovo-Metohija and invited Belgrade and Pristina to dialogue as two sovereign states. Is this acceptable for Serbia:
Our policy remains unchanged – neither implicitly nor explicitly will we recognise the province’s independence, but we are ready for dialogue. It is logical for countries that recognised Kosovo to advocate such a policy.
When will the talks begin:
Serbia is ready. We have formed a team, prepared the topics and a platform. It is up to Brussels and Pristina now.
Can we expect the beginning of an international investigation regarding Dick Marty’s report on human organ trade:
We are in constant touch with Europe regarding this issue. We are demanding a thorough, independent investigation. In this context, the credibility and capacity of EULEX is being questioned.
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