Jočić: Kosovo first; law, elections later

Dragan Jocic said Tuesday that "Kosovo takes precedence over the Constitutional Law". Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) vice-president and interior minister repeated his party's position today that presidential and local elections should not be held until after "one fundamental national issue had been taken care of – keeping Kosovo within Serbia." Jocic: Kosovo first; law, elections later "There’ll be no partying until this operation is over. Moreover, at present the legitimacy of the state bodies is present," said Jocic. He told journalists at the parliament building today that Kosovo "came before the Constitutional Law", which stipulated that elections must be called by the end of the year, and reiterated that the constitution pre-amble on Kosovo obliged state bodies to protect the interests of the Serbian state in the province. Despite DSS assertions that elections should not be held before Kosovo’s status is settled, and claims that they have sent their partners election proposals, all the other sides claim to the contrary. DSS lawmaker Dragan Sormaz repeated that the party had sent a proposal for the date of the local and presidential elections to their coalition partners, even though the Democratic Party (DS) and G17 plus say they have received no such document. "Have you asked the presidents of the other parties if they have received the proposals? Maybe they haven’t informed their party members about it," Sormaz told curious reporters today. Meanwhile, junior partner in the ruling coalition, G17 Plus, said they had not received any official proposal from the DSS regarding either local or presidential elections, according to head of the party’s parliamentary group Suzana Grubjesic. "There have been no official conversations or agreements on the subject of elections." Grubjesic expects serious discussions on the issue to begin among the coalition partners, with each of them putting forward their own ideas. "However, we all have to be mindful of the fact that as long as there is a constitutional law, we must respect it," she warned. Under the law, local and presidential elections must be held by the end of the year. Head of the DS parliamentary group Nada Kolundzija said that the issue of elections was a question of respect for the law first, and a party agreement detailing the manner in which they would be held second. "I have no information as to whether the DSS have sent us an official election proposal. That is, unless you regard what we have heard in the media as a proposal," Kolundzija told journalists in parliament. She says all agreements should be reached within the ruling coalition, and all proposals should be put forward directly, and not via the media, "because that paints a poor picture." As for the main opposition, the Serb Radical Party (SRS) Vice-President Dragan Todorovic said they were ready for elections regardless of the timing. "The SRS is in favor of the constitution being respected, but it’s not up to us to decide when elections are held. When the majority agrees, the SRS will be ready regardless of whether they’re held jointly or apart," Todorovic told reporters. Getting the priorities right? Dragan Jocic (FoNet) Parliament resumes work Also Tuesday, the Serbian parliament convened for the first time after a month-long summer recess. The extraordinary session has been called on the initiative of the ruling coalition, with numerous items on the agenda. The deputies are thus expected to discuss and elect the Council of the State Audit Institution and ratify the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). The State Audit Institution would be an important anti-corruption body charged with overseeing of all direct and indirect budgetary beneficiaries. Parliament will also discuss amendments to the Law on Tobacco, the draft Law on Travel Documents, amendments to the Law on Citizenship and draft Law, and proposed changes to the Law on Prevention of Violence at Sports Events. The agenda also features the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Elections in April at earliest According to daily Vecernje novosti, elections will be called by December 31 at the latest, and held in April of next year. Quoting sources from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), the paper writes that the leadership of the party headed by Prime Minister Vojislava Kostunica have presented their idea to their coalition partners, and that consultations are under way. DSS sources told the paper that the proposal meets all the criteria, in respecting constitutional law, and would mean that there would no fierce election campaign during December, when it is reputed that Kosovo independence will be declared. The paper writes that in so doing, Kostunica’s party is trying to put an end to disharmony among his partners over the date of the election, and is looking to bring everyone into line ahead of the crucial diplomatic struggle for the defense of Kosovo. Information trustee reminds ministers of obligations Rodoljub Sabic reminded ministers Tuesday of their obligations to respect the law on public access to information. “Earlier I reminded all state institutions of their obligation to respect the laws pertaining to access to information of public importance." "The problems are in implementing the laws, and educating new ministers is a good reason to repeat this,” the information trustee said. Sabic pointed to the fact that one of the laws related to “the legal obligation of state administrators to appoint one or more individuals to deal with all requests relating to information access.” He said that state officials must be educated as to the contents of the law and European democratic standards, which are necessary for implementing laws, adding that not enough attention had not been given to the education side of things. Sabic said that all state administrations must publish documents on their websites under the title of Work Informer, where all important information and current activities can be listed. “Unfortunately, the vast majority of ministries do not publish that document, nor do they do it regularly or actively,” Sabic said.

Jočić: Kosovo first; law, elections later

"There’ll be no partying until this operation is over. Moreover, at present the legitimacy of the state bodies is present," said Jočić.

He told journalists at the parliament building today that Kosovo "came before the Constitutional Law", which stipulated that elections must be called by the end of the year, and reiterated that the constitution pre-amble on Kosovo obliged state bodies to protect the interests of the Serbian state in the province.

Despite DSS assertions that elections should not be held before Kosovo’s status is settled, and claims that they have sent their partners election proposals, all the other sides claim to the contrary.

DSS lawmaker Dragan Šormaz repeated that the party had sent a proposal for the date of the local and presidential elections to their coalition partners, even though the Democratic Party (DS) and G17 plus say they have received no such document.

"Have you asked the presidents of the other parties if they have received the proposals? Maybe they haven’t informed their party members about it," Šormaz told curious reporters today.

Meanwhile, junior partner in the ruling coalition, G17 Plus, said they had not received any official proposal from the DSS regarding either local or presidential elections, according to head of the party’s parliamentary group Suzana Grubješić.

"There have been no official conversations or agreements on the subject of elections."

Grubješić expects serious discussions on the issue to begin among the coalition partners, with each of them putting forward their own ideas.

"However, we all have to be mindful of the fact that as long as there is a constitutional law, we must respect it," she warned.

Under the law, local and presidential elections must be held by the end of the year.

Head of the DS parliamentary group Nada Kolundžija said that the issue of elections was a question of respect for the law first, and a party agreement detailing the manner in which they would be held second.

"I have no information as to whether the DSS have sent us an official election proposal. That is, unless you regard what we have heard in the media as a proposal," Kolundžija told journalists in parliament.

She says all agreements should be reached within the ruling coalition, and all proposals should be put forward directly, and not via the media, "because that paints a poor picture."

As for the main opposition, the Serb Radical Party (SRS) Vice-President Dragan Todorović said they were ready for elections regardless of the timing.

"The SRS is in favor of the constitution being respected, but it’s not up to us to decide when elections are held. When the majority agrees, the SRS will be ready regardless of whether they’re held jointly or apart," Todorović told reporters.

Parliament resumes work

Also Tuesday, the Serbian parliament convened for the first time after a month-long summer recess.

The extraordinary session has been called on the initiative of the ruling coalition, with numerous items on the agenda.

The deputies are thus expected to discuss and elect the Council of the State Audit Institution and ratify the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).

The State Audit Institution would be an important anti-corruption body charged with overseeing of all direct and indirect budgetary beneficiaries.

Parliament will also discuss amendments to the Law on Tobacco, the draft Law on Travel Documents, amendments to the Law on Citizenship and draft Law, and proposed changes to the Law on Prevention of Violence at Sports Events.

The agenda also features the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Elections in April at earliest

According to daily Večernje novosti, elections will be called by December 31 at the latest, and held in April of next year.

Quoting sources from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), the paper writes that the leadership of the party headed by Prime Minister Vojislava Koštunica have presented their idea to their coalition partners, and that consultations are under way.

DSS sources told the paper that the proposal meets all the criteria, in respecting constitutional law, and would mean that there would no fierce election campaign during December, when it is reputed that Kosovo independence will be declared.

The paper writes that in so doing, Koštunica’s party is trying to put an end to disharmony among his partners over the date of the election, and is looking to bring everyone into line ahead of the crucial diplomatic struggle for the defense of Kosovo.

Information trustee reminds ministers of obligations

Rodoljub Šabić reminded ministers Tuesday of their obligations to respect the law on public access to information.

“Earlier I reminded all state institutions of their obligation to respect the laws pertaining to access to information of public importance."

"The problems are in implementing the laws, and educating new ministers is a good reason to repeat this,” the information trustee said.

Šabić pointed to the fact that one of the laws related to “the legal obligation of state administrators to appoint one or more individuals to deal with all requests relating to information access.”

He said that state officials must be educated as to the contents of the law and European democratic standards, which are necessary for implementing laws, adding that not enough attention had not been given to the education side of things.

Šabić said that all state administrations must publish documents on their websites under the title of Work Informer, where all important information and current activities can be listed.

“Unfortunately, the vast majority of ministries do not publish that document, nor do they do it regularly or actively,” Šabić said.