Belgrade, May 10, 2010

SERBIA

TADIC: SERBIA PERMANENTLY AN ANTI-FASCIST COUNTRY
MOSCOW, May 9 (Tanjug) - President Tadic stated that Serbia will permanently remain oriented towards fighting against fascism and all ideologies that propagate hatred. After the military parade celebrating the 65th anniversary of the victory over fascism in Moscow, attended together with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Tadic told reporters that the Serbian people had never had anything in common either with fascism or Nazism. "As president of the Republic I always remain committed to the anti-fascist ideals," said Tadic."The Serbian people suffered numerous casualties, but remembering our own victims we also remember the casualties of other peoples of Yugoslavia, because it was our common fight," said Tadic."The idea of united Europe emerged from the foundations of the fight against fascism, because united Europe is a project of reconciliation and such a grandiose project would never have developed without the victory over fascism," said Tadic. Tadic met with all heads of state who attended the parade in Moscow and with Russian President Medvedev and PM Putin. "The messages were that we want to continue our cooperation in all areas, not only in the economic, but in the security area also," said Tadic, adding that he also discussed military cooperation, that is cooperation in the area of defense industry, with his hosts. Tadic said that he had discussed the crisis in eurozone with German Chancellor Merkel. "I said that it would be a tragic mistake should the EU enlargement would stop due to the eurozone problems, and she agreed with that,".

CVETKOVIC: NO ROOM FOR FASCISM OR ANY OTHER EVIL
BELGRADE, May 9 (Tanjug) - Victory Day, marking the victory over fascism in World War II, was marked in Belgrade in the presence of representatives of Serbia's state and military leadership, government and diplomatic corps and with a message by PM Cvetkovic, who stated that there is no room for fascism or any other evil in Serbia.Cvetkovic underscored at the ceremony that Victory Day is a world holiday of peace and triumph of justice, which also warns of the atrocities of War II. Cvetkovic said that Europe Day is also being marked on the same day, May 9, since modern Europe was founded on principles of the fight against fascism - the principles of peace, understanding, tolerance and cooperation. This is the day on which history warns the humanity of the consequences of violence, racial and religious intolerance and genocide. "Our country was among the first to stand up against death, fear and humiliation brought in by the wave of fascism," said Cvetkovic."There is no room for fascism or any other evil in Serbia and it is today a civilization issue and an issue of individual and state dignity," adding that those who had committed crimes in this part of the world in recent history cannot hide behind the people they belong to and must not be allowed to evade justice. No matter how small a country Serbia is, its geo-strategic position makes it an obvious factor in building a better future for all those who live in the region, concluded Cvetkovic.

VICTORY DAY MARKED ACROSS SERBIA
BELGRADE, May 9 (Tanjug) - Victory Day, which marks the capitulation of Nazi forces to the Allies and the end of World War II, was marked in many parts of Serbia today by laying wreaths at monuments to the liberators and victims of WWII. Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic laid wreaths at the Memorial Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade in 1944, where representatives of the Serbian and Russian orthodox Churches served a memorial liturgy.Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Konuzin, President of the Belgrade Assembly Aleksandar Antic, Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic, representatives of the Serbian Army and Russian Armed Forces, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, also laid wreaths at the cemetery, where the remains of Soviet and Yugoslav soldiers who died in battles for the liberation of Belgrade are buried. On behalf of the Serbian president, Defense Minister Sutanovac, accompanied by Serbian Army Chief of Staff Miloje Miletic, laid a wreath at the Unknown Soldier Tomb on the occasion of May 9, Victory Day.

JEREMIC & MLADENOV: MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COOPERATION
BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - Foreign minister Vuk Jeremic said at the press conference he held together with his Bulgarian counterpart Nikolay Mladenov in Belgrade that Serbia is committed to maintaining the highest possible level of cooperation with all countries in the region. The two ministers assessed that relations between the two countries are improving, and agreed that they should not look back to the past where there was no understanding between Serbia and Bulgaria, but look forward to the future instead. Mladenov said that Serbia and Bulgaria need a new bilateral future, and added that now is a unique opportunity to turn the dialogue ahead in that direction. Answering a question about the crisis which is disrupting Greece, Jeremic and Mladenov said that the problem is of international importance and that they are very concerned about it. Mladenov added that Bulgaria fully supports the EU aid package for Greece, and expressed grief at the tragic outcome of the recent riots in that country, when three persons lost their lives. Asked about the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the new negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, Jeremic reiterated that there is no chance the resolution will be repealed, since necessary agreement is lacking in the Security Council on the issue. Jeremic pointed out that Serbia has always favored resolving all open issues through dialogue, and underlined that the technical and practical issues and the problem of Kosovo status can all be resolved by means of dialogue alone, as opposed to unilateral actions. He noted that the only possible framework for negotiations on the status of Kosovo is the UN SC Resolution 1244.

SUTANOVAC DOES NOT KNOW WHY VS WAS NOT INVITED TO MOSCOW
BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac said that he does not know why the Serbian Army (VS) was not invited to the Victory Day parade in Moscow which will mark the 65th anniversary of the victory over fascism. Serbia's contribution to that victory was impressive, he noted. The number of victims it had during World War II should have placed Serbia among the participants in the ceremony in Moscow, Sutanovac said. He was attending the opening of an exhibition of photographs and documents mainly from the personal archives of Soviet General Vladimir Zhdanov who commanded the Red Army forces which liberated Belgrade. The exhibition was organized by the Rusian embassy in Belgrade. Military relations between Serbia and Russia unfortunately lag behind their political relations, Sutanovac said, expressing hope that these relations will improve this year. A high level Russian delegation headed by its army chief of staff is expected to visit Serbia at the end of this year, Sutanovac said. This will pave the way for an exchange of visits by ministers and provide an opportunity for opening a new era in bilateral military relations that would make them similar to political relations, he said. Asked by the press about the statement by NATO SecGen Rasmussen that NATO wants better relations with Balkan states, especially Serbia, Sutanovac said that Serbia has been a member of PfP since 2006. It is true that all cooperation opportunities provided by PfP have not been used, and Serbia wants to make full use of them this year, he said.

SERBIA – EU

CVETKOVIC THANKED PROLL FOR STRONG SUPPORT OF AGENDA 2014
BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic met with Austria's Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance Josef Proll and thanked Austria for its strong support for Agenda 2014, which is a plan to integrate the Western Balkans into the EU by that year, and he added that he hopes Serbia will achieve significant progress in its European integration in 2010. Proll stated that Serbia can count on Austria's support on its path towards the EU. He also touched on economic cooperation, stressing that his country will continue investing in Serbia as it has been doing so far. According to an announcement by the prime minister's Cabinet, Cvetkovic said that Serbia is willing to work hard on all forms of cooperation with Austria. The prime minister noted that the two countries have an exceptionally high level of economic cooperation, and pointed out that Austria is the largest investor in the Serbian economy, with over USD 2.8 billion of direct investments. "I am certain that level of cooperation will continue both when it comes to investments and increasing mutual trade," said Cvetkovic. The two countries signed an agreement on avoiding double taxes, which Cvetkovic described as another important thing in their relations.

DJELIC: EU CANDIDATE-STATE STATUS BY MID-2011 IS OUR GOAL
BELGRADE, May 9 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that Serbia's goal is to gain the status of an EU candidate state by mid-2011 and to start negotiations by the end of this cabinet's mandate, that is by mid-2012. "These are our goals and it is up to us to secure a consensus within the EU," said Djelic on the occasion of Victory Day. He also said that everything is being done to have the EU member states give a green light to the EC to discuss Serbia's application. Although there is no consensus within the EU to forward Serbia's application to the EC in June, Serbia has the support of Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Spain. Speaking about the cooperation with the Hague tribunal and European integrations, Djelic recalled the last year's conclusions of the Council of Europe, according to which ratification of the SAA with Serbia would start if a report by Serge Brammertz, due in June, is positive. Saying that there is no reason for Brammertz's report not to be positive, Djelic expressed his expectation that a decision on ratification of the SAA might be made at the EU ministerial meeting scheduled to be held in Luxembourg in mid-June.

JEREMIC: WESTERN BALKANS A TURNING POINT FOR EU INTEGRATION
BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov said in Belgrade that his country plans to intensify its endeavors in support to Western Balkans integration in the EU. Bulgaria will continue to support EU integration of the entire Western Balkans and will do so in a much more practical way, he told a joint press conference with his counterpart Jeremic. Serbia has lately intensified its endeavors for EU integration, Mladenov said, expressing hope that these endeavors will be recognized and commended at the EU - Western Balkans summit in June in Sarajevo. Bulgaria will certainly commend Serbia's endeavors, he emphasized. Jeremic said that the Western Balkans region is at a turning point as regards EU integration, and that the speed of that process will depend on the regon's countries' conduct. Western Balkan countries need strength, determination and mutual understanding to that end and will welcome Bulgaria's support, he said. Jeremic reiterated that Serbia is fully committed to its strategic goal - full EU membership.

EUROPE DAY MARKED IN BELGRADE
BELGRADE, May 9 (Tanjug) - Europe Day was marked in Belgrade with a number of events, while the central event took place in the Kalemegdan fortress, where Head of EU Delegation Ambassador Vincent Degert opened a Euro Park, which includes 27 stands presenting the EU member states. At the opening Degert said he hopes Serbia will have a successful European future, expressing his satisfaction over the fact that the 60th anniversary of the EU is being marked together with citizens of Belgrade and Serbia. Government Office for European Integrations Director Delevic, Minister of the Interior Dacic, Defense Minister Sutanovac, Minister for State Administration and Local Self-Government Markovic, Minister of Tade and Services Milosavljevic and numerous residents of Belgrade attended the opening. Dacic and Sutanovac said that Serbia's accession in the EU is a national and state interest and a rather important priority of the country's foreign policy. It is only logic that Serbia simultaneously marks Europe Day and Victory Day, because on May 9 fascism was defeated, and on those foundations was created the idea of unity, united Europe, said Dacic. Sutanovac underscored that Serbia have a very important foreign policy priority and that is to join the EU, which is why it should celebrate Europe Day together with European countries, citizens and associations, adding that Serbia's contribution to Europe is enormous.

DJELIC: GERMANY WILL SUPPORT RATIFICATION OF SAA WITH SERBIA
BERLIN, May 7 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said in Berlin that Germany will certainly support the ratification of the SAA with Serbia at the June meeting of EU ministers. The document will be signed, "provided that the report of Serge Brammertz is positive, as expected," Djelic said in a statement at the end of his three-day visit to Germany. The deputy prime minister has urged Germany to support Belgrade's request that Serbia's candidacy for EU membership be forwarded to the EC as soon as possible. "Should this not be possible in June, then at least this autumn," he added. Djelic said that an agreement was reached with German Minister of Education and Research Anette Schavan on the signing of an interstate agreement between Serbia and Germany to renew cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science and technology. Part of this agreement envisages joint cooperation projects with the Max Planck Institute and the Fraunhofer Institute, Djelic said, and added that the two institutes might open their branches in Serbia.

DELEVIC: 14 COUNTRIES ARE INCLUDED IN EU DANUBE STRATEGY
BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - About EUR 20 million will be allocated from the EU pre-accession funds for the Danube projects in Serbia in 2011, which will be additionally funded from the funds allocated for the cross-border cooperation, government Office for European Integrations Director Milica Delevic said at an international conference dubbed "Danube - Strongest Link to EU". The adoption of the EU Danube strategy will start in mid-2010, while its final adoption is expected in early 2011, participants of the conference, which was held at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), said. Delevic said that 14 countries are included in the development of the strategy, of which six, including Serbia, are not members of the EU. PKS President said that the Danube River had been identified as the Pan European Transport Corridor VIIand a link among countries of Western, Eastern and Central Europe. Deputy of the EU Delegation Head to Serbia Adriano Martins underscored the EU's readiness and its commitment to continue the development and promotion of the Danube basin. Martins underscored that defining the Danube Strategy is an important step forward in the sector integration of the EU countries in the areas of transport, energy supply, tourism, environmental protection and other.

BRINGEUS: I EXPECT SAA RATIFICATION IN JUNE
BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Krister Bringeus has expressed his expectation that the process of ratification of the SAA between Serbia and the EU will start in June. I believe that we will get a signal to start the ratification process in mid this year and I personally believe that it will be in June, Bringeus said. We are confident that Serbia fully cooperates with the Hague tribunal, the ambassador said, underscoring that Sweden strongly supports the SAA ratification. Of course we want the indictees to be brought to justice, but we believe that the Serbian authorities will do everything in their power, said the ambassador. Sweden strongly supports Serbia's application for the EU membership, said Ambassador Bringeus, whose leaving the post soon, adding that the brightest moment of his three-year service in Serbia was when he went to Stockholm with President Tadic to attend the official submission of Serbia's application for the EU membership. The candidate status or the Union membership itself are not as important as the process of reforms that Serbia will have to carry out in order to become a member, said the ambassador, adding that the reforms imply establishment of the rule of law, environmental protection and fight against corruption. Bringeus believes that major progress had been made since his arrival in Serbia, because Serbia now has a stable pro-European government and a parliament that adopts laws.

SERBIA – REGION

MONTENEGRIN ASSEMBLY: SERBIA HAS REPEATED ITS DIPLOMATIC MISTAKES
PODGORICA, May 8 (Beta) - Montenegrin Assembly Speaker Ranko Krivokapic will not visit Serbia on May 18 and 19, as it was previously announced, as the Serbian parliament has cancelled the visit. Podgorica daily Vijesti on May 8 reported that Krivokapic was informed of this by his Serbian counterpart Djukic-Dejanovic. The cancellation of the visit was allegedly requested for in a "note" from Podgorica that "the most anti Serbian part of Montenegrin authorities" should not be received, the daily reported. By cancelling the visit of Krivokapic, Serbia has "repeated its diplomatic mistakes" the Montenegrin assembly speaker's cabinet said. "By repeating these diplomatic mistakes, the Republic of Serbia reduces its chances to abandon the last place in EU integrations," Krivokapic's EU Integrations Advisor Ivan Vujovic stated. In a written statement, Vujovic said that it is "inappropriate to persistently invite someone, and then offer an unconvincing formal reason to cover the obvious one, thus violating a basic principle of international law noninterference into another country's internal affairs." Podgorica TV In reported that Krivokapic's visit to Belgrade was cancelled based on a message received from Serbian Ambassador in Montenegro Zoran Lutovac. Lutovac allegedly proposed cancelling the visit to prevent its abuse for election purposes, at the eve of local elections in Montenegro, to be held on May 23.

SPEAKER SAYS VISIT POSTPONED
BELGRADE, May 10 (Beta) - Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic has said that she trusts that her Montenegrin counterpart Krivokapic will understand the reasons for the postponement of a planned visit to Belgrade, scheduled for May 18. "The claims of some individuals in Montenegro's Parliament of this being yet another diplomatic blunder by Belgrade are tendentious and do not correspond to the truth," Dejanovic told Blic. When questioned about the reasons for the postponement, she answered that she was forced to put the visit off because of sudden business obligations "related to parliamentary and legislative matters, and also the arrival of different parliamentary delegations in Belgrade.""We have not cancelled the Montenegrin Speaker's visit, but only postponed it. It is not so important whether the visit will be held a month earlier or later," Djukic-Dejanovic said.

DACIC & KARAMARKO: CENTER FOR FIGHTING ORGANIZED CRIME TO BE CREATED
OSIJEK, May 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian and Croatian Ministers of Interior Ivica Dacic and Tomislav Karamarko announced in Osijek the creation of a joint center for fighting organized crime. They told a joint press conference that police working groups would start preparations for opening the center already next week. Karamarko said that the agreement on founding the center will be implemented in several phases through joint activities of the two ministries. The people in the region deserve peace and security and the Serbian and Croatian Ministries have a great responsibility to that effect, he said. He also pointed to the need for maintaining good cooperation between the two countries' police regardless of day-today political developments. Serbia has excellent cooperation with police of other countries in the region, Dacic said, singling out Croatia as a good example. The center should collect and process information on organized crime in the region and help organize joint activities, he said. The creation of a joint data base and inclusion of officials of the two countries' prosecutions will be important for the center's work, he said. The Serbian-Croatian center will be open to other countries in the region too, he said, describing its creation as a historic development.

DACIC: REGION POLICE COOPERATION BEFORE POLITICAL
BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic evaluated that police cooperation in the region should always come before political cooperation because the common interest of the states is to fight organized crime. "I am positive that police cooperation is now a few steps ahead of political relations among the region states, which should be natural since the common interest of us all is to fight crime," Dacic said. Dacic described the agreement reached by the interior ministers of Serbia and Croatia on setting up a regional center for the fight against organized crime as an example of good police cooperation. According to him, legal basis for setting up the regional center would be defined in the coming period. "A series of joint investigation teams are planned, as well as setting up of a joint operational data base on organized crime in the territory of our two states and the region as a whole," clarified Minister Dacic.

EXCELLENT DEFENCE COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA AND BULGARIA
BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac said, after his meeting with Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov, that Serbia and Bulgaria have an excellent level of cooperation in defence, and that Serbia will take part in a number of activities in Bulgaria during 2010. "We expect Bulgaria to provide adequate support to our efforts in getting the most out of the PfP Programme," said Sutanovac. Mladenov stated that the Serbian Defence Ministry is an extremely good example of success in military and defence system reforms. There had been plans to hold joint military exercises in 2009, but they were postponed for economic reasons, said Mladenov, adding that the cooperation between the two countries was an excellent example of how a PfP and a NATO member could work together. Sutanovac noted that the region's stability is good, exaplaining that there are no military threats, but that extremism is present, which is a problem throughout the world, says an announcement by the Defence Ministry. "The important thing is that all the systems in the region are gaining strength, and I hope that we will soon form a regional intelligence agency, which will solidify the ties between the region's armed forces," said Sutanovac.

SEJDIU: ATTENDANCE IN SARAJEVO ONLY WITH EQUAL TREATMENT
BELGRADE, May 10 (Beta) - Kosovo President Sejdiu expressed Pristina's readiness to attend a summit of West Balkan and EU countries in Sarajevo on June 2, regardless of the summit form, but only if all participants receive equal treatment. "Kosovo will decline to participate only if it does not receive equal treatment. We will take part in any other case, because it serves our interest and that of the region. The only thing that matters is that everything is based on principles of equality. In that case, we will participate," Sejdiu told BETA. Asked if that agenda is acceptable for Kosovo as well, Sejdiu said that Pristina is "ready to discuss all topics of common interest." Also asked if Kosovo feels obliged to take certain measures, in order to respect international law, when the ICJ announces its decision on the legitimacy of Kosovo's independence, whatever that opinion may be, Sejdiu replied that Kosovo "does not want to prejudice what the Court's advisory opinion will be like." In relation to potential negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade, and to the question whether mediators will be necessary if those negotiations occur, as well as who they might be, Sejdiu said that "there are no particular signals in that direction." "Yet, a friendly approach is in our interest, and there is no reason for tension on our part. We are ready to discuss different topics, excluding the status. Concerning the potential mediators, that is one of the questions that needs to be reconsidered," he underlined. Commenting on the question why two years after the proclamation of Kosovo's independence the media keep reporting negatively about the life of Serbian citizens in Kosovo, Sejdiu added that "there must be some media outlets which have positive info on the matter."

KOSOVO – METOHIJA

LJAJIC: COMPROMISE ON THE FUTURE STATUS OF KOSOVO IS NECESSARY
BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - Minister for Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajic stated that there are no talks between Belgrade and Pristina at the moment, but that this does not mean that there will be no talks after the ICJ gives its opinion. "Compromise on the future status of Kosovo is necessary and it may not be reached through negotiations only," Ljajic told.Ljajic believes that the right moment to open a dialogue would be after the ICJ announces its stand on the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, and that the existin situation in which the Albanians should have everything while the others would lose literally everything is not sustainable. Ljajic evaluated as good that a compromise was found for Serbia's participation in the upcoming conference in Sarajevo. "It enables us to remain at the table where we are the topic of a discussion, and yet we did not accept Kosovo's participation as a state entity," said Ljajic.

FULE SUPPORTS BELGRADE-PRISTINA TECHNICAL NEGOTIATIONS
ZVECAN, May 7 (Tanjug) - EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fuele said that he supports talks on technical issues between Belgrade and Pristina, and pointed out that he is in favor of any kind of dialogue and regional cooperation that will yield positive results. At a press conference in Zvecan, northern Kosovo, Fuele said he is not aware of any secret negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina. Answering the question whether dividing the province could be a solution to the Kosovo problem, the EU commissioner said that he did not come to discuss the status of Kosovo. Fuele underlined that he supports a regional cooperation that will yield results, expressing belief that such cooperation should be backed up by the international community. Speaking about the removal of Serbian mobile telephony operators in Kosovo, Fuele said that he believes the problem is not a political one, but rather related to business and its rules. Sooner or later this issue will have to be resolved, he said, adding that it is necessary to establish whether the people relying on these services have been adversely affected.

BRINGEUS: EU HAS NO PLAN FOR AFTER ICJ'S STAND
BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Krister Bringeus has stated that the EU still has no special plan of action for after the ICJ presents its opinion on the independence of Kosovo and that he is not familiar with possible pressures against Serbia or attempt to alter Resolution 1244. Bringeus reiterated that recognition of Kosovo is not a prerequisite for Serbia's accession in the EU, adding, however, that Serbia will have to solve the problem of the province before joint the Union. The fact is that no one will request Serbia to recognize Kosovo, but another fact is that the EU will not accept new member states with unresolved issues with their neighbors," Bringeus told, adding that his advice to Serbia would be to solve the question of Kosovo in one way or another, because the EU means partnership and good neighborly relations among the member states. When asked whether the EU has a specific plan for negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, or whether pressure is being imposed on Serbia to give up fresh dialogue on the status after the ICJ produces an opinion on Kosovo's independence, Bringeus said that he is not familiar with that. He also said, however, that the majority of the EU countries, including Sweden, have recognized Kosovo and that this would not be revoked. Bringeus also said he was not familiar with an alleged intent of Washington to have Serbia agree to an alteration of Resolution 1244, adding that he did not believe there was a plan to do that in order to offer Serbia a speedier accession in the EU, as reported by some Belgrade media.

KONUZIN: NO REASON TO ABOLISH RESOLUTION 1244
BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Konuzin has stated that under present circumstances "there is no reason to abolish the existing and adopt a new resolution on Kosovo.""In the conditions when UN SC Resolution 1244 is not being fulfilled, the process on Kosovo's status, which is the subject of the existing resolution, should be completed first. I understand the attempts to offer a new resolution as a wish to abolish Res 1244 as a legal basis for a resolution of the status of Kosovo and Metohija," Konuzin said for Danas. Konuzin also said that as far as he knows, "this is unacceptable to the Serbian government, and that Russian strongly supports Belgrade's stand on this issue."

SERBIA – ECONOMY

DRAGUTINOVIC: GOVERNMENT PREPARES SET OF CRISIS LAWS
BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - The Serbian government is drafting a set of crisis laws which will enable a rapid response in case the Greek financial crisis overflow, and the set of laws is expected to be adopted at the July parliament sitting, Finance Minister Diana Dragutinovic has stated. She told a news conference that the set of laws will be implemented only in case a systemic crisis is declared in Serbia, adding that Serbia is among the first countries to adopt such laws. These mainly include the law on banks, a new systemic law on crisis, amendments to the Law on Deposit Insurance Agency and Law on Deposit Insurance. Dragutinovic underscored that the banking sector in Serbia is solvent enough and that there is no room for concern regarding banks. When asked whether she was concerned about a possible impact of the Greek crisis, she said she was but recalled that the Greek issue had almost been solved with the assistance of the IMF and EU.

DANUBE'S NATURAL RESOURCES SHOULD BE PUT TO USE
BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - The stress in developing the potential of the Danube should be put on the development of its natural resources and on benefiting from its intersection with the Pan-European Corridor 10 near Belgrade and Novi Sad, state secretary for tourism with the Ministry of Economy, said. "It would facilitate the development of tourism and transport along the Danube," Petkovic stated at the Economy and Transport panel, held as part of an international conference entitled Danube - the Strongest Link with the EU. According to Petkovic, Serbia has an opportunity to develop tourism by increasing transport. The state secretary noted that the government adopted a tourism development strategy 5 years ago, which involves developing nautical tourism along the Danube.