Opposition irked by cost of negotiator's office

MPs of the opposition SRS party have voiced strong criticism of government's plans to set aside RSD 24mn for a new office set up to support the Kosovo dialogue. The office, which the government said was in charge of "expert affairs" in the ongoing, EU-sponsored dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina that started in March, is "necessary", PM Mirko Cvetkovic said on Wednesday at the Serbian parliament. Opposition irked by cost of negotiator's office The premier reacted during the debate today on 97 amendments submitted to the government draft state budget for 2012, when it was revealed that the office, meant to provide negotiator Borislav Stefanovic with technical support, will cost the state budget some EUR 235,000 in 2011. SRS MPs said that the expenses - going toward salaries of those employed at the office - should be cut by RSD 11mn to RSD 923,000, and requested to learn how many experts were on the payroll, and what their duties would be. "The office has nothing to do with personnel issues - if one is doing an important job, one must have technical support as well. The office should exist, and it will help significantly with the development of the negotiations, which will continue for who knows how long in the future," Cvetkovic said in response. He also refused to comment on statements made by SRS MPs, and also those from the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP), that the real reason for the setting up of a separate office to support Stefanovic was his conflict with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. Cvetkovic said that he would not address these claims "because Stefanovic will not even be employed by the office". SRS MP Aleksandar Martinovic said that, considering that no money was spent from the budget in 2011 for such expert support - "that means Stefanovic can work without those funds". LDP MP Ivan Andric noted that his party "refused to have the citizens invest in something that runs contrary to the citizens' interests". At the same time, MPs of the ruling DS-led parliamentary group defended the decision to set up the new office. A view of the Serbian parliament on Wednesday (Beta) Beta

Opposition irked by cost of negotiator's office

The premier reacted during the debate today on 97 amendments submitted to the government draft state budget for 2012, when it was revealed that the office, meant to provide negotiator Borislav Stefanović with technical support, will cost the state budget some EUR 235,000 in 2011.

SRS MPs said that the expenses - going toward salaries of those employed at the office - should be cut by RSD 11mn to RSD 923,000, and requested to learn how many experts were on the payroll, and what their duties would be.

"The office has nothing to do with personnel issues - if one is doing an important job, one must have technical support as well. The office should exist, and it will help significantly with the development of the negotiations, which will continue for who knows how long in the future," Cvetković said in response.

He also refused to comment on statements made by SRS MPs, and also those from the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP), that the real reason for the setting up of a separate office to support Stefanović was his conflict with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić.

Cvetković said that he would not address these claims "because Stefanović will not even be employed by the office".

SRS MP Aleksandar Martinović said that, considering that no money was spent from the budget in 2011 for such expert support - "that means Stefanović can work without those funds".

LDP MP Ivan Andrić noted that his party "refused to have the citizens invest in something that runs contrary to the citizens' interests".

At the same time, MPs of the ruling DS-led parliamentary group defended the decision to set up the new office.