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Government demands urgent UN investigation into incidents at Jarinje
Belgrade,
29 September 2011
Head of the Office of Media Relations Milivoje Mihajlovic today stated that the Serbian government has demanded that the UN launch an urgent investigation into the incident at Jarinje administrative crossing, calling upon the UN to make sure that missions in the province act solely within a status-neutral framework, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
Slobodan Homen and Milivoje Mihajlovic
Mihajlovic told a press conference following a government session that the government believes the heated scenarios in Kosovo-Metohija can be pacified only through talks, with full adherence to the rights and interests of the Serbian population in the north of the province.
The government is fully committed to dialogue and we believe that the announced arrival by EU mediator Robert Cooper to Belgrade and Pristina implies support to dialogue, Mihajlovic observed.
He stressed that the government expects the incidents and other unfortunate events to be channelled by having both sides sit down at the negotiating table and solve problems one by one, with international mediators.
Mihajlovic stated that at today’s session the government adopted a Bill on mining and geological research.
It also passed amendments to the Decree on the type, amount and value of goods exempted from customs duties, as well as on the deadlines, terms and procedure for exercising the right to be exempted from customs duties, Mihajlovic added.
He explained that the limit for exemption from customs duties on imported goods has gone up from €25 to €50, while the limit on the import of goods that our citizens receive free of charge by private individuals from abroad has been risen from €45 to €50.
This decision encourages the use of international payment service via the Internet, said Mihajlovic.
He said that the government has extended the validity of the Decree on the protection of property of parts of companies with headquarters in the former Yugoslav republics until 31 March 2012.
The government’s public relations coordinator Slobodan Homen, remarking on the Croatian government’s decision to adopt a bill declaring null and void all indictments and verdicts against Croatian citizens passed in Serbia, stated that in democratic societies the executive and legislative authority should not interfere in the work of court organs.
Homen observed that democracies are characterised by a division of power. This should be in force in Serbia and in all democratic states, including Croatia.
The fact that indictments have been raised against Croatian citizens on account of events from the 1990s does not mean that these individuals are automatically guilty, but only that they can prove their innocence in court, Homen explained.
Homen said that the procedures for all charges for which there is sufficient evidence will be continued, adding that the arrest warrants in many cases have already been announced.
All countries are expected to act pursuant to those warrants, as war crimes are among the most serious criminal offences that never expire, and those responsible would sooner or later be brought to justice, said the State Secretary.
He warned that no law or act of executive or legislative authorities must not protect anyone from criminal liability, and noted that extradition is not the only way of legal cooperation.
There is also a possibility of referral, said Homen and expressed hope that the EU and the international community will clearly state that adoption of such legislation is not in line with modern European democracies.
The government is fully committed to dialogue and we believe that the announced arrival by EU mediator Robert Cooper to Belgrade and Pristina implies support to dialogue, Mihajlovic observed.
He stressed that the government expects the incidents and other unfortunate events to be channelled by having both sides sit down at the negotiating table and solve problems one by one, with international mediators.
Mihajlovic stated that at today’s session the government adopted a Bill on mining and geological research.
It also passed amendments to the Decree on the type, amount and value of goods exempted from customs duties, as well as on the deadlines, terms and procedure for exercising the right to be exempted from customs duties, Mihajlovic added.
He explained that the limit for exemption from customs duties on imported goods has gone up from €25 to €50, while the limit on the import of goods that our citizens receive free of charge by private individuals from abroad has been risen from €45 to €50.
This decision encourages the use of international payment service via the Internet, said Mihajlovic.
He said that the government has extended the validity of the Decree on the protection of property of parts of companies with headquarters in the former Yugoslav republics until 31 March 2012.
The government’s public relations coordinator Slobodan Homen, remarking on the Croatian government’s decision to adopt a bill declaring null and void all indictments and verdicts against Croatian citizens passed in Serbia, stated that in democratic societies the executive and legislative authority should not interfere in the work of court organs.
Homen observed that democracies are characterised by a division of power. This should be in force in Serbia and in all democratic states, including Croatia.
The fact that indictments have been raised against Croatian citizens on account of events from the 1990s does not mean that these individuals are automatically guilty, but only that they can prove their innocence in court, Homen explained.
Homen said that the procedures for all charges for which there is sufficient evidence will be continued, adding that the arrest warrants in many cases have already been announced.
All countries are expected to act pursuant to those warrants, as war crimes are among the most serious criminal offences that never expire, and those responsible would sooner or later be brought to justice, said the State Secretary.
He warned that no law or act of executive or legislative authorities must not protect anyone from criminal liability, and noted that extradition is not the only way of legal cooperation.
There is also a possibility of referral, said Homen and expressed hope that the EU and the international community will clearly state that adoption of such legislation is not in line with modern European democracies.
