Gov't marks 100 days in office

The Serbian government will mark its first one hundred days in office on Thursday, August 23. The parliament voted in a new government on May 15, only half an hour ahead of a constitutional deadline, by the votes of 133 deputies of the ruling majority, consisting of the Democratic Party (DS), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) - New Serbia (NS) coalition and G17 Plus. Gov't marks 100 days in office In his keynote address to the parliament that preceded lawmakers' vote on the new cabinet, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that the parties to form the government had reached full agreement over five crucial program principles. These principles included policy towards the issue of Kosovo's future status, European integration, cooperation with the HagueTtribunal, social and economic policies and the fight against crime and corruption. “The government warns that a possible recognition of the province's independence can by no means be represented as an act of friendship towards Serbia because that is an act of the harshest interference in another country's internal affairs,” Kostunica said at the time. Despite announcements that the recognition of independence should take place by the end of May, the UN Security Council failed to address the Ahtisaari plan, while the status settlement process has been postponed with a decision to arrange a new round of negotiations mediated by the Contact Group. When it comes to Kosovo, during the past several weeks, cabinet ministers from Kostunica’s DSS have been constantly warning that the United States should "give up the creation of a NATO state in Kosovo." Official news agency Tanjug reported Tuesday that while the Democrats see these claims as "maybe too harsh", they "certainly do not threaten the good relations within the ruling coalition, as certain media have tried to suggest over the past few days". DS whip in the Serbian parliament, Nada Kolundzija, said she was certain that statements by some DSS officials would not disrupt relations within the coalition. She, however, added that the negotiating team should assess to what extent "certain statements are detrimental to Serbia ahead of the start of the new negotiating process." DSS spokesman Branislav Ristivojevic also said that there can be "no mention of threatened coalition relations". "We have no problem with our coalition partners, because it is NATO that is trying to form its own state in Kosovo, rather than our coalition partners," Ristivojevic told reporters on Monday. The agency quotes unnamed political analysts who believe that, although the Democrats likely disagrees with the DSS views, they will refrain from reacting in order to maintain "peace within the family." As for the resumption of European integration process, set as one of government’s goals, the European Union renewed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) talks with Serbia on June 13. The cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, whose completion is seen as a precondition for the finalization of the SAA, moved ahead with the arrest of retired Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) general Zdravko Tolimir and former police general Vlastimir Djordjevic. Serbia is yet to locate and arrest four remaining Hague fugitives, including Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, in order to meet the demands of the UN court. The government decided during its first one hundred days to postpone the privatization of the Serbian oil monolpoly NIS and the public power enterprise, EPS. The Kostunica cabinet counts an investigation into organized tobacco smuggling among its successes in the fight against organized crime. The investigation resulted in the arrest of the members of three organized criminal groups, whose leaders, Stanko Subotic, Mirjana Markovic and Marko Milosevic, the widow and son of former President Slobodan Milosevic, are still at large. On August 29, Kostunica and Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic will present a report about the government's activities and results in the first 100 days. As of August 30, news conferences will be held each day in the government building at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.. The ministries will meet with reporters to present their activities from the cabinet's first 100 days, the government said on its website. Serbian Government in session (FoNet, archive)

Gov't marks 100 days in office

In his keynote address to the parliament that preceded lawmakers' vote on the new cabinet, Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica said that the parties to form the government had reached full agreement over five crucial program principles.

These principles included policy towards the issue of Kosovo's future status, European integration, cooperation with the HagueTtribunal, social and economic policies and the fight against crime and corruption.

“The government warns that a possible recognition of the province's independence can by no means be represented as an act of friendship towards Serbia because that is an act of the harshest interference in another country's internal affairs,” Koštunica said at the time.

Despite announcements that the recognition of independence should take place by the end of May, the UN Security Council failed to address the Ahtisaari plan, while the status settlement process has been postponed with a decision to arrange a new round of negotiations mediated by the Contact Group.

When it comes to Kosovo, during the past several weeks, cabinet ministers from Koštunica’s DSS have been constantly warning that the United States should "give up the creation of a NATO state in Kosovo."

Official news agency Tanjug reported Tuesday that while the Democrats see these claims as "maybe too harsh", they "certainly do not threaten the good relations within the ruling coalition, as certain media have tried to suggest over the past few days".

DS whip in the Serbian parliament, Nada Kolundžija, said she was certain that statements by some DSS officials would not disrupt relations within the coalition.

She, however, added that the negotiating team should assess to what extent "certain statements are detrimental to Serbia ahead of the start of the new negotiating process."

DSS spokesman Branislav Ristivojević also said that there can be "no mention of threatened coalition relations".

"We have no problem with our coalition partners, because it is NATO that is trying to form its own state in Kosovo, rather than our coalition partners," Ristivojević told reporters on Monday.

The agency quotes unnamed political analysts who believe that, although the Democrats likely disagrees with the DSS views, they will refrain from reacting in order to maintain "peace within the family."

As for the resumption of European integration process, set as one of government’s goals, the European Union renewed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) talks with Serbia on June 13.

The cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, whose completion is seen as a precondition for the finalization of the SAA, moved ahead with the arrest of retired Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) general Zdravko Tolimir and former police general Vlastimir Đorđević.

Serbia is yet to locate and arrest four remaining Hague fugitives, including Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić, in order to meet the demands of the UN court.

The government decided during its first one hundred days to postpone the privatization of the Serbian oil monolpoly NIS and the public power enterprise, EPS.

The Koštunica cabinet counts an investigation into organized tobacco smuggling among its successes in the fight against organized crime. The investigation resulted in the arrest of the members of three organized criminal groups, whose leaders, Stanko Subotić, Mirjana Marković and Marko Milošević, the widow and son of former President Slobodan Milošević, are still at large.

On August 29, Koštunica and Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić will present a report about the government's activities and results in the first 100 days.

As of August 30, news conferences will be held each day in the government building at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.. The ministries will meet with reporters to present their activities from the cabinet's first 100 days, the government said on its website.