Council for Security session sought over tabloid report

BELGRADE Economy and Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic has asked for a meeting of the National Council for Security after a tabloid accused him of corruption. The minister said on Tuesday that the Council should convene "because individuals from the police along with tabloid newspapers are out of control, and are reaching verdicts and calling for lynchings." Council for Security session sought over tabloid report "It is important that politicians who are leading this country show that the state is functioning, and that the right to justice is being done within institutions rather than in the street and by way of tabloids," Dinkic also said. Dinkic addressed his request for the "urgent meeting" to be held to President Tomislav Nikolic. But the president said on Tuesday that he did not intend to grant his request. The minister issued the statement to deny the veracity of recent reports published by the daily Informer, which accused him of involvement in the "pillage of the century" - when billions of dollars were transferred from Serbia to Cyprus. He also said that it was "public knowledge" that "some individuals from the ranks of the police are placing different kinds of articles (in the media)". Dinkic called on Police Director Milorad Veljovic and Prosecutor Miljko Radislavljevic "to start all necessary proceedings and urgently investigate all allegations presented by Informer." But Tomislav Nikolic made it clear that he would not schedule a meeting of the Council. A statement from the president's cabinet explained that the media reports in question "in no way jeopardized the country's security." "President Nikolic will never interfere in the work of the media, just as he has not done that before, even when he personally became the subject of media reports," the statement concluded. Mladjan Dinkic (Beta, file) Tanjug

Council for Security session sought over tabloid report

"It is important that politicians who are leading this country show that the state is functioning, and that the right to justice is being done within institutions rather than in the street and by way of tabloids," Dinkić also said.

Dinkić addressed his request for the "urgent meeting" to be held to President Tomislav Nikolić. But the president said on Tuesday that he did not intend to grant his request.

The minister issued the statement to deny the veracity of recent reports published by the daily Informer, which accused him of involvement in the "pillage of the century" - when billions of dollars were transferred from Serbia to Cyprus.

He also said that it was "public knowledge" that "some individuals from the ranks of the police are placing different kinds of articles (in the media)".

Dinkić called on Police Director Milorad Veljović and Prosecutor Miljko Radislavljević "to start all necessary proceedings and urgently investigate all allegations presented by Informer."

But Tomislav Nikolić made it clear that he would not schedule a meeting of the Council. A statement from the president's cabinet explained that the media reports in question "in no way jeopardized the country's security."

"President Nikolić will never interfere in the work of the media, just as he has not done that before, even when he personally became the subject of media reports," the statement concluded.