DS official says party "stands behind statute"

Democratic Party (DS) official Oliver Dulic said that his party stands behind the draft of the Vojvodina statute submitted to the national parliament. He said that the ruling DS is "most responsible for the reform process that is leading Serbia into Europe", and that the statute is part of that process. DS official says party "stands behind statute" Dulic added that "no one has saved Serbia from unconstitutional act", commenting on the ruling SPS leader Ivica Dacic’s statement that his party saved the country from an unconstitutional statute. “Through the legal-technical changes what was necessary was done, which was to create a framework for transferring authorities to Vojvodina. I deeply believe that the statute draft, which was submitted to parliament, is in accordance with the Constitution and that the whole process was led according to the law,” Dulic said. The draft statute and law for transferring powers to Vojvodina has been agreed on with the entire ruling coalition, "and part of the opposition", he said, and added that the Constitutional Court will make its decision in case there is any doubt as to the constitutionality of the two. Dulic said that he believes "there is no serious political party" in Vojvodina that is insisting on decentralization and the transfer authorities while in fact thinking about breaking away from Serbia. “All talk of a civil war and other absurd threats mentioned by some politicians are only efforts by them to get back on the political scene and be active,” Dulic continued. He said that Serbia should one day have "several regions with the same or similar authorities". “The concept of regionalization is present in all European countries and Serbia is perhaps the only one that has not implemented it,” according to the DS official, who is also a cabinet minister. Dulic said that there is a fear of this idea in Serbia "because of numerous prior negative experiences", but believes those "should not be emphasized". “Even though Vojvodina is historically, culturally and politically specific, the moment other regions construct administrative capacities, they will be able to ask for these authorities as well,” Dulic said.

DS official says party "stands behind statute"

Dulić added that "no one has saved Serbia from unconstitutional act", commenting on the ruling SPS leader Ivica Dačić’s statement that his party saved the country from an unconstitutional statute.

“Through the legal-technical changes what was necessary was done, which was to create a framework for transferring authorities to Vojvodina. I deeply believe that the statute draft, which was submitted to parliament, is in accordance with the Constitution and that the whole process was led according to the law,” Dulić said.

The draft statute and law for transferring powers to Vojvodina has been agreed on with the entire ruling coalition, "and part of the opposition", he said, and added that the Constitutional Court will make its decision in case there is any doubt as to the constitutionality of the two.

Dulić said that he believes "there is no serious political party" in Vojvodina that is insisting on decentralization and the transfer authorities while in fact thinking about breaking away from Serbia.

“All talk of a civil war and other absurd threats mentioned by some politicians are only efforts by them to get back on the political scene and be active,” Dulić continued.

He said that Serbia should one day have "several regions with the same or similar authorities".

“The concept of regionalization is present in all European countries and Serbia is perhaps the only one that has not implemented it,” according to the DS official, who is also a cabinet minister.

Dulić said that there is a fear of this idea in Serbia "because of numerous prior negative experiences", but believes those "should not be emphasized".

“Even though Vojvodina is historically, culturally and politically specific, the moment other regions construct administrative capacities, they will be able to ask for these authorities as well,” Dulić said.