Ruling party "to propose cabinet reshuffle"

BELGRADE Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said that his ruling SNS party will "evaluate" the work of its ministers on March 15. The leader of the Serb Progressives (SNS) explained that after this, he would suggest a cabinet reshuffle to Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. Ruling party "to propose cabinet reshuffle" A decision about early parliamentary elections in Serbia will be made after the EU makes its decision on giving the country a date for the start of membership talks, he also revealed. Speaking about the milk scandal, he said that at least four officials would be sacked - and said they were heads of the Plant Protection Administration, the Veterinary Administration, the Department of Health and Plant Quarantine of the Plant Protection Administration, and its Phyto-Sanitary Inspection. Vucic also said that he would seek restoration of the permitted level of aflatoxin in milk to 0.05 micrograms per kilogram. Vucic announced that he will discuss the possible responsibility of Agriculture Minister Goran Knezevic, but noted that "it was not fair to evaluate his performance until the work of all other ministers in the government has been evaluated", and that Knezevic behaved properly when he offered his resignation. He further said that he and his SNS do not run away from elections, but that currently "the most important job for Serbia is get a date for starting accession negotiations with the EU". "Once we get a date, then we can talk about whatever you want, including elections. We were not born in our offices or Jeeps and we are ready whenever someone expresses doubts as to our legitimacy to go to the polls - whenever, wherever.," he told Serbia's public broadcaster RTS late on Monday in Belgrade, and added: "The SNS will on March 15 consider the work of all our ministers and I will suggest to Prime Minister Dacic to consider a reshuffle in the coming period. I am sure that we are not satisfied with some members of the government and that some people need to be replaced." "The first option is the reconstruction of the government, the other to go to the polls," he noted. Commenting on the affair concerning fugitive drug lord Darko Saric, Vucic said that it was "utter nonsense" that government representatives had agreed that no one would answer in connection with the case. (Beta, file) B92

Ruling party "to propose cabinet reshuffle"

A decision about early parliamentary elections in Serbia will be made after the EU makes its decision on giving the country a date for the start of membership talks, he also revealed.

Speaking about the milk scandal, he said that at least four officials would be sacked - and said they were heads of the Plant Protection Administration, the Veterinary Administration, the Department of Health and Plant Quarantine of the Plant Protection Administration, and its Phyto-Sanitary Inspection.

Vučić also said that he would seek restoration of the permitted level of aflatoxin in milk to 0.05 micrograms per kilogram.

Vučić announced that he will discuss the possible responsibility of Agriculture Minister Goran Knežević, but noted that "it was not fair to evaluate his performance until the work of all other ministers in the government has been evaluated", and that Knežević behaved properly when he offered his resignation.

He further said that he and his SNS do not run away from elections, but that currently "the most important job for Serbia is get a date for starting accession negotiations with the EU".

"Once we get a date, then we can talk about whatever you want, including elections. We were not born in our offices or Jeeps and we are ready whenever someone expresses doubts as to our legitimacy to go to the polls - whenever, wherever.," he told Serbia's public broadcaster RTS late on Monday in Belgrade, and added:

"The SNS will on March 15 consider the work of all our ministers and I will suggest to Prime Minister Dačić to consider a reshuffle in the coming period. I am sure that we are not satisfied with some members of the government and that some people need to be replaced."

"The first option is the reconstruction of the government, the other to go to the polls," he noted.

Commenting on the affair concerning fugitive drug lord Darko Šarić, Vučić said that it was "utter nonsense" that government representatives had agreed that no one would answer in connection with the case.