Đelić: Ruling coalition stable

A cabinet reshuffle is "absolutely not on the agenda", says deputy PM from the ranks of the Democrats (DS), Bozidar Djelic. The ruling coalition is stable, he told Beta news agency in an interview this Sunday. Djelic: Ruling coalition stable "There will be many more challenges this year and it is very important for all institutions to be unblocked, especially the Serbian parliament, so that they can work in the interest of the state and the citizens," said he. Djelic added that elections are not planned for this year, and that this should be used "in order to become dedicated to work under aggravated circumstances", caused by a global crisis "unprecedented in the past 100 years". According to him, the recent gas crisis has shown "how important political stability is". Djelic, in charge of EU integrations in the Cvetkovic cabinet, was also asked if and when this process might come to the issue of "good neighborly relations". Serbia will never acquiesce to any blackmail over Kosovo for the sake of EU integrations, he answered. "No such blackmail has arrived in Belgrade and an institutional solution will have to be found at the point when Serbia joins the EU. Until then, the situation in the field and all our efforts will show that continued negotiations are needed for the sake of a historic compromise between Belgrade and Pristina." In the meantime, the issue of the suspended SAA, and its interim trade agreement, remains open, he said, as Serbia proves the full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal on a daily basis, in contacts with the European Commission and EU member states. "We hope that these elements will lead to a change in the firm Dutch position, and Serbia will certainly submit its candidate status application in April at the latest." Djelic stressed that the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladic to the Hague Tribunal "will not go away as a condition", and that it is up to Serbia to demonstrate that full cooperation with the court – while arresting the remaining two fugitives, Mladic and Goran Hadzic, would come as the best proof. The deputy PM conceded that the EU enlargement process has met with difficulties, but said it was not halted, and cited the world financial crisis and the Irish rejection of the Lisbon treaty as the reasons. However, he said, there are steps in the direction of integration of Serbia and the Western Balkans. Serbia expects EU's financial assistance in the amount of EUR 190mn this year from the IPA funds, "and at least EUR 400mn in micro financial aid in the shape of a long-term loan to be used if budget and privatization income fall below the planned levels". "Besides that, I expect a joint approach with my colleagues from the region in order to secure that a part of the EU's approved EUR 200bn set aside for its member-states goes toward the Western Balkans countries," said Djelic. Bozidar Djelic (FoNet)

Đelić: Ruling coalition stable

"There will be many more challenges this year and it is very important for all institutions to be unblocked, especially the Serbian parliament, so that they can work in the interest of the state and the citizens," said he.

Đelić added that elections are not planned for this year, and that this should be used "in order to become dedicated to work under aggravated circumstances", caused by a global crisis "unprecedented in the past 100 years".

According to him, the recent gas crisis has shown "how important political stability is".

Đelić, in charge of EU integrations in the Cvetković cabinet, was also asked if and when this process might come to the issue of "good neighborly relations". Serbia will never acquiesce to any blackmail over Kosovo for the sake of EU integrations, he answered.

"No such blackmail has arrived in Belgrade and an institutional solution will have to be found at the point when Serbia joins the EU. Until then, the situation in the field and all our efforts will show that continued negotiations are needed for the sake of a historic compromise between Belgrade and Priština."

In the meantime, the issue of the suspended SAA, and its interim trade agreement, remains open, he said, as Serbia proves the full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal on a daily basis, in contacts with the European Commission and EU member states.

"We hope that these elements will lead to a change in the firm Dutch position, and Serbia will certainly submit its candidate status application in April at the latest."

Đelić stressed that the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladić to the Hague Tribunal "will not go away as a condition", and that it is up to Serbia to demonstrate that full cooperation with the court – while arresting the remaining two fugitives, Mladić and Goran Hadžić, would come as the best proof.

The deputy PM conceded that the EU enlargement process has met with difficulties, but said it was not halted, and cited the world financial crisis and the Irish rejection of the Lisbon treaty as the reasons. However, he said, there are steps in the direction of integration of Serbia and the Western Balkans.

Serbia expects EU's financial assistance in the amount of EUR 190mn this year from the IPA funds, "and at least EUR 400mn in micro financial aid in the shape of a long-term loan to be used if budget and privatization income fall below the planned levels".

"Besides that, I expect a joint approach with my colleagues from the region in order to secure that a part of the EU's approved EUR 200bn set aside for its member-states goes toward the Western Balkans countries," said Đelić.