PM in parliament, talks Vojvodina statute, Kosovo

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic is attending a session of the Serbian parliament this Thursday in Belgrade. He is answering MP questions during the session themed, "The government's position on constitutional obligations". PM in parliament, talks Vojvodina statute, Kosovo The discussion about a draft law on the transfer of jurisdiction to Vojvodina is approaching its end, Cvetkovic said, adding that he expects it will be sent to the Serbian lawmakers soon. The draft bill must be adopted along with the draft Vojvodina statute. “The law on jurisdiction is a key issue and it is necessary for the discussion to be completely over in order to study all the aspects and problems which may result from one or the other solution,” he told MPs. Cvetkovic denied accusations that the government had overstepped constitutional deadlines concerning the law, and said his cabinet was doing "exactly what the citizens expected by seriously formulating the proposal of the law". Answering questions related to Kosovo, the prime minister said that the government has adhered to its position that it would not recognize, "either explicitly or implicitly", the unilaterally declared secession of the province. He also reacted to criticism from opposition MP Slobodan Samardzic, who said the government used the term "border" in the documents it signed with the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX – "thus taking part in the process in which Kosovo is being snatched away from Serbia”. Cvetkovic said that “in the documents, the line is not referred to as a 'border,' but rather as the 'administrative border line with Kosovo'.” “We have no intention to recognize, either explicitly or implicitly, the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, and we shall not take a single step in that direction. We adhere to the position that this government has several pillars of its policy, one of which is the protection of the country's integrity and sovereignty,” Cvetkovic underlined. Cvetkovic and his ministers in parliament today (Beta)

PM in parliament, talks Vojvodina statute, Kosovo

The discussion about a draft law on the transfer of jurisdiction to Vojvodina is approaching its end, Cvetković said, adding that he expects it will be sent to the Serbian lawmakers soon.

The draft bill must be adopted along with the draft Vojvodina statute.

“The law on jurisdiction is a key issue and it is necessary for the discussion to be completely over in order to study all the aspects and problems which may result from one or the other solution,” he told MPs.

Cvetković denied accusations that the government had overstepped constitutional deadlines concerning the law, and said his cabinet was doing "exactly what the citizens expected by seriously formulating the proposal of the law".

Answering questions related to Kosovo, the prime minister said that the government has adhered to its position that it would not recognize, "either explicitly or implicitly", the unilaterally declared secession of the province.

He also reacted to criticism from opposition MP Slobodan Samardžić, who said the government used the term "border" in the documents it signed with the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX – "thus taking part in the process in which Kosovo is being snatched away from Serbia”.

Cvetković said that “in the documents, the line is not referred to as a 'border,' but rather as the 'administrative border line with Kosovo'.”

“We have no intention to recognize, either explicitly or implicitly, the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, and we shall not take a single step in that direction. We adhere to the position that this government has several pillars of its policy, one of which is the protection of the country's integrity and sovereignty,” Cvetković underlined.