Belgrade, 19. 02. 2010.

TADIC CONFERS WITH EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic conferred with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. They discussed the EU integration of Serbia and Western Balkans, and the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, the president's press service has released in a statement. Tadic pointed out that Serbia's main goal is EU membership, and added that he hopes the country's application for candidacy will be considered as soon as possible. The Serbian president reiterated that, when it comes to the cooperation with The Hague Tribunal, Serbia still puts all its efforts into the cooperation and works on locating and arresting of the remaining two Hague indictees, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, on a daily basis. Serbia wants the best possible relations with countries from the region, Tadic stressed, and underscored that the country supports the integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tadic underlined that Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo and reiterated that the so-called plan for the integration of the northern part of the province is a threat for the stability in the region as a whole.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Vice-President of the EC and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that Serbia is truly committed to the EU integration process. Serbia still has much to do, but has made progress and seems truly committed to implementing the necessary reforms, she said. Serbia will be a reliable partner in the EU integration process, Ashton said after a meeting with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. Cvetkovic said that Ashton assured him that Serbia will get full support from the EU in the integration process. He presented to Ashton Serbia's plans for EU integration in 2010. The talk also focused on the economic and financial situation in Serbia, the issue of Kosovo-Metohija and fighting organized crime.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Vice-President of the EC and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, said that the future of the whole Western Balkans is in the EU, and added that the countries from the region have to resolve their bilateral and border problems. Good neighborly relations and improvement of regional cooperation are key factors on EU pathway, and the Union supports the dialogue between the countries in the region. We will be happy when Serbia and Kosovo resolve their problems, Ashton said in Belgrade, addressing the representatives of the civilian sector. The vice-president of the EC pointed out that Serbia's cooperation with The Hague Tribunal is of utter importance, and praised Belgrade for its cooperation with the Tribunal, expressing belief that the next report of Serge Brammertz will be positive. Ashton also praised the initiative of President Tadic to condemn the massacre in Srebrenica. Speaking of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), Ashton assessed that there is no compromise on the political scene of the country, and pointed out that BiH can enter the EU only as one state. The rhetoric which flirts with the secession is very harmful and the EU will never accept dismembering of BiH, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy concluded.

BELGRADE, Feb 19 (Tanjug) - The EU may not request Serbia to recognize Kosovo, because the unilateral declaration of independence of Serbia's southern province had not been recognized by some EU member-states, Austrian member of the EP and Vice-President of the socialist group in the EP Hannes Svoboda has stated. "We should promote Serbia's accession in the EU, but, at the same time, we should include Kosovo in European integrations. We may not ask Serbia to recognize Kosovo, which has not been recognized by some EU member states either. The majority of the EU states have done it, but not all of them. We have to find a way, but we may not pressure Serbia now for Kosovo," Svoboda said in a statement published by Politika. In his last week's address to the EO members in Strasbourg, Svoboda also said that "no one knows the formula for Serbia's accession in the EU without recognizing the independence of Kosovo" and "it will be a difficult diplomatic formula, which Serbia has to find." He also clarified that the EU does not want to import problems but to export stability instead.

NOVI SAD, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Hungarian Parliament Speaker Bela Katona said in Novi Sad, on the second day of his visit to Serbia, that Hungary will do all in its power to help Serbia obtain the status of EU candidate as soon as possible, and after that the full membership to the EU as well. We are ready to share with Belgrade all of our experiences in the negotiations with EU officials, and at the same time continue even closer bilateral cooperation in all fields, especially in agriculture, tourism and culture, Kotona told the media after a working lunch with the Vojvodina Parliament Speaker Sandor Egeresi. Katona assessed as very positive the adoption of the Statute of Vojvodina and passing of the Law on national councils, pointing out that higher authorizations of the province and ethnic minorities in creating their own destiny and preserving the integrity can only lead to a further improvement of the relations between Hungary and Serbia. The Hungarian official also characterized as very positive and constructive the talks in Belgrade, with Parliament Speaker Djukic Dejanovic and President Tadic and PM Cvetkovic.The atmosphere was such that can be created only by truly good neighbors. I proposed the further intensification of our parliamentary cooperation to my hosts, especially when it comes to the connection between the boards for economy, agriculture and environmental protection, Katona underscored.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic conferred with US senators George Vojinovic and Jean Shahin on bilateral relations and the situation in Kosovo- Metohija. Serbia wishes partnership with the US, Tadic said, noting that security agencies of the two countries are cooperating closely in fighting organized crime, which is one of Serbia's priorities in 2010. Serbia's goal is EU membership and it has applied for candidate status, he said quoted by a release from his office. As regards Kosovo-Metohija, Tadic reiterated that this issue is being considered by the ICJ, that Serbia will never recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence and that it will defend its integrity by peaceful, legal and diplomatic means. Serbia wants the best possible regional cooperation, Tadic emphasized. Despite disagreements with the region's countries regarding Kosovo-Metohija, Serbia and those countries have many common points for the sake of which Serbia will endeavor to foster relations, he said.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Prime Minister Cvetkovic pointed out in his talks with US senators George Vojinovic and Jean Shahin that Serbia and the US have good bilateral relations and thanked Washington for its support to Serbia's EU integration. Senators Vojinovic and Shahin pointed out that Serbia has made significant and visible progress over the past few years, and that stability in the Western Balkans is extremely important not only for the EU but for the whole world, the press office of the Serbian government said in a statement.Serbia and the US have had good bilateral relations following the visit of US Vice-President Joseph Biden, Cvetkovic said. He thanked Washington for supporting Serbia's EU accession, and pointed out that Belgrade expects that the Stabilization and Association Agreement will be ratified and that the country will gain EU membership candidate status in the immediate future, it is said in the statement. "When it comes to economic cooperation between the two countries, the US is one of the biggest foreign investors in Serbia with some USD 1.6 billion, but there is still room for an increase in US investments, especially in the areas of information technology, biotechnology and renewable fuels," the prime minister said. US senators Vojinovic and Shahin are on visit to Serbia that will last several days.

BELGRADE, Feb 19 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic stated that Serbia has full support of the USA for speedier EU accession. "Of course, America is not part of the EU but its stand has great influence in the dialogue with Brussels and represents an important support for Serbia's EU future," Djelic pointed out after the talks with US Congressman Earl Pomeroy. Djelic said that he discussed a number of bilateral issues with Pomeroy, who is the member of the House of Representatives, and underscored that his honorable American guest offered him support for signing of a bilateral agreement on science-technological cooperation. Pomeroy said that he is looking forward to the return to Serbia, where he stayed during his high-school period, adding that such personal bonds are important since they reflect on the relations at other levels of the US-Serbia cooperation. Pomeroy, just like US Ambassador to Belgrade Jennifer Brush, came to Serbia in 1973 for the first time as part of a student exchange program. Back then, Pomeroy and Brush stayed in Kraljevo. Many of the participants in the program, including the two of them, have stayed in touch with their host families. Therefore, Pomeroy will use his arrival to Serbia to visit Kraljevo and to meet again with his former hosts.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Cooperation in the defense sector is the best part of Serbia-US relations, it was noted at a meeting between Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and the US Senate delegation headed by Senator George Vojinovic. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation in defense, which is the best part of overall bilateral relations between the US and Serbia, the Defense Ministry said in a release. It was concluded that cooperation should continue to be fostered on the highly successful programs, such as cooperation in military education and cooperation within the State Partnership Program. Senator Vojinovic particularly emphasized the level of cooperation achieved by Serbia and the Ohio National Guard and expressed his full support to Serbia on its path towards the EU. Sutanovac briefed the US delegation on the results of defense reform so far. He pointed out that his ministry's priorities in the coming period include completing the process of professionalization and modernization of the Army and intensive participation in multinational operations. As regards the political and security situation in the region, Sutanovac and the US delegation agreed that only intensive regional cooperation can successfully respond to all challenges and risks which still threaten the stability of the region, the release says. Sutanovac said that the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army participate in all regional security initiatives, giving a full contribution to building peace and stability in the W Balkans.

DJUKIC-DEJANOVIC: JOSIPOVIC'S RHETORIC IS ENCOURAGING

JAGODINA, Feb 19 (Tanjug) - Serbian parliament President Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic stated that the rhetoric of Croatia's new president Ivo Josipovic is encouraging when it comes to the relations among the Western Balkan countries. "His rhetoric is a good indicator that we will discuss all topics, including those that relate to the crimes committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia," Djukic-Dejanovic said for television Palma Plus. The Western Balkan countries, "all of us, the former members of Yugoslavia, need to share the same system of values and conduct, because, I sincerely believes, that until we reach an agreement among us, it is hard to imagine that someone is looking forward to see us in the European Union with the unsolved problems of our own," underscored the parliament president.

THE HAGUE, Feb 19 (Tanjug) - The ICJ in The Hague fixed December 20, 2010 and November 4, 2011 as time-limits to Serbia and Croatia for the filing of pleadings in view of the lawsuit and counter lawsuit that refer to the violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the ICJ stated. The ICJ took account of the facts that the counter-memorial filed by Serbia on January 4 contains demanding from the ICJ to adjudge and declare that Croatia has violated its obligations under that Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by committing, during and after the operation Storm in August 1995, the following acts with intent to destroy the Serb national and ethnic group living in the Krajna Region: killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its partial physical destruction, the statement said. The statement reads that Serbia demands from Croatia to redress the consequences of its international wrongful acts by paying full compensation for all damages and loses caused by the acts of genocide, establishing all legal conditions and securing environment for the safe and free return of the Serbs to their homes. Given the absence of objections by Croatia to the admissibility of the above mentioned counter-claims, the ICJ did not consider that it was required to rule definitely at this stage on the question of whether the claims are in keeping with the Rules of Court, the ICJ stated. Serbia filed a counter-memorial to the ICJ on January 4, 2010, after Croatia had filed a genocide lawsuit against Serbia to the principal judicial organ of the UN. The Serbia's counter-memorial includes data on crimes committed in Gospic, Sisak, Pakracka Poljana, Karlovac, Osjek, Paulin Dvor, Medacki Dzep, on the Maslenica Bridge and of course during the operations Flash and Storm. The ICJ was given data on the victims of the 1995 conflicts and on those who were killed after the war conflicts or in an attempt to return to their home.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic and Serbia's War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic signed in Ottawa 'A memorandum of understanding and improvement of mutual unforced aid in cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide' with Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Rob Nicholson The memorandum is an important step in the cooperation between Canada and Serbia, since the two countries, by an efficient exile of war criminals, created the possibility to improve relations in the fields of international legal aid, extradition and mutual recognition of court decisions, Malovic evaluated in a statement. "Serbia is strongly oriented and puts maximum effort that all the war criminals be punished and that the justice for victims and their families is served. The signed memorandum will make possible for investigations and processing of war crimes to be carried out more quickly," she underlined.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - State Audit Institution (DRI) announced that it initiated offence procedures against 19 officials, including six incumbent and five former ministers in the government, for violations of the Budget System Law. The offence procedures were initiated against Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic, Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic, Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic, Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic, Minister of Culture Nebojsa Bradic, and Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic. Slobodan Milosavljevic was charged on the basis of the reasonable suspicion that he took upon himself obligations and allowed expenditures not envisaged by the Serbian budget law. The ministers Bogdanovic, Obradovic, and Tomica Milosavljevic are charged with allowing expenditures for catering services on the basis of the documentation according to which it could not be established that the spendings were for the purposes of business. The health minister is accused of allowing expenditures for the implementation of a public health program without accounting documentation. The culture minister will be held responsible on the basis of the reasonable suspicion that he committed payments for goods and services without accounting documentation, i.e. without a valid accounting document. Five former ministers against whom charges are pressed are Sasa Dragin, for offences committed while serving as minister of environment protection, former Culture Minister Brajovic, former Minister of Trade Bubalo, former Education Minister Loncar, and former Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Samardzic, the announcement says.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Prime Minister Cvetkovic said that in the future the government will take all the necessary measures to prevent the repetition of offences related to spending the budget money. "I have talked with all the ministers in the government against whom the charges were pressed by the state auditor. I have been informed that the ministries prepared all the documentation regarding the reported irregularities and they will be presented during the court procedure," the prime minister stated. The State Audit Institution (DRI) conducted the audit of the 2008 budget, and it is now on the courts, as independent bodies, to decide whether the irregularities existed or not, he pointed out. Cvetkovic reiterated that, as he put it, it is of utter importance that Serbia has the first report of the DRI and that the transparency in the control of spending the budget money has been established.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Director General of Srbijagas Dusan Bajatovic and EBRD Director for Serbia Hildegard Gacek signed the agreement on a loan to Srbijagas which amounts to EUR 150 million. A guarantee agreement for the loan between the Republic of Serbia and EBRD was signed in the building of the Serbian government by Gacek and Minister of Finance Dragutinovic. The act of signing was also attended by Minister for Energy Petar Skundric. After the signing, Dragutinovic said that the purpose of the loan is the construction of new gas storage of around billion cubic meters, maintenance of the gas distribution network and refinancing of the existing loans of Srbijagas. She underlined that this is a very favorable loan, which will make possible for Serbia to become energetically independent country.Stressing that in the following period the economic recovery is expected, which will not be possible without a new growth model, Dragutinovic pointed out that she expects EBRD to increase the investments in Serbia. Gacek reminded that EBRD invested EUR 423 mil in Serbia in 2009, and added that the bank's goal is not to invest less, but more.

SMEDEREVO, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic visited the steel plant U.S. Steel Serbia in Smederevo, and familiarized himself with the advantages of the new equipment for environmental protection, in which USD 60 mil was invested, i.e. 10 mil more than it was planned. After touring the plant, Dulic pointed out that this is a good example of how, with a lot of effort, investment and cooperation, the pollution of air, water and land could be reduced to be in the scope of the allowed limits. The minister and the representatives of U.S. Steel Serbia discussed air monitoring, but also how to fix the existing equipment and set up new measure station. Speaking of new investments, Dulic said that in the following period only new steel facilities made in accordance with the latest technology can be delivered to Serbia and not old, already used facilities from other countries. He announced that U.S. Steel Serbia will "enter the process of obtaining integrated permission for steel facilities in 2011." Director General of U.S. Steel Serbia Matthew Perkins evaluated that one of the biggest ecological investments was installed into the steel plant, and pointed out that the equipment fulfills all the conditions envisaged by the agreement signed with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Co-Chairmen of the Serbian-Rusian Committee for Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Ivica Dacic and Sergei Shoigu conferred on cooperation in investments and on Russia's loan for Serbian railways. Dacic and Shoigu, Russian Minister of Emergency Situations, also discussed the implementation of the free trade agreement signed by Serbia and Russia.They welcomed the start of duty-free export of medicines manufactured in Serbia to the Russian Federation as of this month. The meeting was attended also by Serbian Ministers of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjic and of Energy Petar Skundric and State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy Vesna Arsic.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Finance Minister Diana Dragutinovic said that she does not know where the media learned that there are problems in the ongoing negotiations between the Serbian government and the IMF delegation. At a press conference in the Serbian government building, Dragutinovic said that government representatives are not concerned over this stage of the negotiations because, as she pointed out, Serbia "has fulfilled all its obligations." She recalled that this is the second week of negotiations, and that the most important issue is pension system reform.Official talks between IMF and the Serbian government, as part of the third review of the stand-by arrangement, started with a plenary session on Feb 9 and will continue until Feb 23. In the talks so far, IMF has rated positively the Serbian government's realization of the stand-by arrangement obligations, including the successfully conducted measures to alleviate the adverse effects of the crisis, macroeconomic indicators which are better than in other Eastern European countries, and the pension system reform activities to date. On May 15, 2009, IMF approved a new stand-by arrangement for Serbia, worth EUR 2.9 billion, for the strengthening of foreign exchange reserves. Two installments of the loan, totaling EUR 1.12 billion, have been withdrawn so far. The IMF agreement requires Serbia to cut down budget spending on public employee salaries, i.e. to keep the salaries and pensions frozen in 2010. The agreement also envisages layoffs in the state administration, and adoption of a new pension and disability insurance law.

BELGRADE, Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Minister for National Investment Plan Verica Kalanovic conferred with the IMF delegation on the realization of infrastructure projects financed through NIP in 2009 and on plans for 2010. The established system for project management, coordination and transparency have considerably improved the realization of projects and saved money in 2009, Kalanovic noted. The IMF officials expressed support to investments in infrastructure projects and commended their management, the Ministry for NIP said. The official talks between the Serbian government and the IMF mission on the revision of the stand-by arrangement began, February 9, with a plenary session in the building of the National Bank of Serbia, and will last until February 23.