July 27 set as deadline for cabinet reshuffle

BELGRADE First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic says he expects that the reconstruction of the Serbian government to be completed by July 27. He adds that the economy will be "in focus." July 27 set as deadline for cabinet reshuffle Vucic addressed a news conference in Belgrade on Tuesday to say that the main objective of the government was "a better and stronger economy and a better legal system." According to him, the economy made "small but insufficient steps (forward)." Vucic then criticized "some strikes and announced strikes," stating the specific example of a weapons factory workers in Kragujevac. "If there are those who know and can do a better job than the current government, we are not born in armchairs and have no intention of remaining in power using political force and media spins, if there are others better than us," he asserted. He announced changes to labor laws and changes in the business environment, along with "a reduction in the number of the unemployed." When asked to for a more concrete statement regarding the the government reshuffle, and whether early elections have been "completely ruled out," - Vucic said the aim of the government of Serbia was "stability." "We are not governed by partisan and state interests. I'm not thinking about elections but do not rule out the possibility. The reconstruction will be extensive, serious and thorough, as far as people in the party that I lead are concerned. In this sense, I will demand this kind of responsibility from my coalition partners, and they will make their decisions." Asked whether "the West was opposed to early elections," primarily the United States, Vucic said he "did not know if someone opposes, or if someone favors elections." "I do not care what they think about it, this is an internal matter of the state of Serbia." He added that his party, the SNS, "primarily wants stability and is not ruled by partisan, but by state interests." Asked about media speculation that the Ministry of Finance and Economy, led by Mladjan Dinkic, would be split in two, Vucic said that he never asked for that, and respected the coalition agreement. He also stated that he would not "personally evaluate the performance of ministers from the SPS and the URS," but would instead "ask that it is pointed out in direct conversation with Dacic and Dinkic to the weak and inconsistent results." He added that neither he nor the SNS "ever called and asked the media to publish any information against anyone on the Serbian political scene, including our coalition partners." "We have no time for that, and morality requires us to act differently and not behave others have behaved." Vucic reiterated that "in the fight against corruption," all 24 disputed privatization (cases) identified by the EU would be "finished." He did not wish to answer questions about the investigations being conducted and which are mentioned in the media. Commenting on EU's decision last Friday that Serbia should start its membeship talks "not later than January," Vucic said that Serbia was "certainly given the green light for the start of accession negotiations which will irrespective of the malice of some politicians begin no later than in January." "It was good and important news for Serbia because we got confirmation that we are recognized and accepted by the EU as an important and reliable partner that respects agreements and that gives everyone an equal chance. Serbia joining the EU and getting a date does not solve all our problems and here we come to the key problems we face today - it is that we will have to live from our own work. There is solidarity but not charity in the union." Vucic then said this would be "a guideline" in the upcoming reshuffle. He added that it will be "of great importance that for the first time after 20 years our work and economy will be the priority, and not politics." He told reporters that it was good that after June 28 and the EU decisions there was no "great celebration and excitement," because "big, hard and difficult work that we have to undertake alone awaits Serbia." "There are a number of major changes and big sacrifices. Will amend the Labor Law, shorten bureaucratic procedures, we will introduce e-government and the Office for the Quick Answers. Our goal is that this generation overcomes all these troubles and hardships and provides something better and more for generations to come." Asked whether Serbia will be able to fulfill everything by the end of the year so that accession negotiations can begin in January, Vucic said that "Serbia does not face easy tasks in the implementation of the Brussels agreement, but that it will not be as some think ' the swan song'." He added that "many doubted this government when it undertook to solve the Kosovo problem and when it started to fight against corruption." Vucic was also quoted as saying that "a chair for Kosovo in the UN will not be a condition for the start of accession negotiations," and Serbia "will not accept the new conditions." Vucic addresses reporters on Tuesday (Tanjug) B92

July 27 set as deadline for cabinet reshuffle

Vučić addressed a news conference in Belgrade on Tuesday to say that the main objective of the government was "a better and stronger economy and a better legal system." According to him, the economy made "small but insufficient steps (forward)."

Vučić then criticized "some strikes and announced strikes," stating the specific example of a weapons factory workers in Kragujevac.

"If there are those who know and can do a better job than the current government, we are not born in armchairs and have no intention of remaining in power using political force and media spins, if there are others better than us," he asserted.

He announced changes to labor laws and changes in the business environment, along with "a reduction in the number of the unemployed."

When asked to for a more concrete statement regarding the the government reshuffle, and whether early elections have been "completely ruled out," - Vučić said the aim of the government of Serbia was "stability."

"We are not governed by partisan and state interests. I'm not thinking about elections but do not rule out the possibility. The reconstruction will be extensive, serious and thorough, as far as people in the party that I lead are concerned. In this sense, I will demand this kind of responsibility from my coalition partners, and they will make their decisions."

Asked whether "the West was opposed to early elections," primarily the United States, Vučić said he "did not know if someone opposes, or if someone favors elections."

"I do not care what they think about it, this is an internal matter of the state of Serbia." He added that his party, the SNS, "primarily wants stability and is not ruled by partisan, but by state interests."

Asked about media speculation that the Ministry of Finance and Economy, led by Mlađan Dinkić, would be split in two, Vučić said that he never asked for that, and respected the coalition agreement.

He also stated that he would not "personally evaluate the performance of ministers from the SPS and the URS," but would instead "ask that it is pointed out in direct conversation with Dačić and Dinkić to the weak and inconsistent results."

He added that neither he nor the SNS "ever called and asked the media to publish any information against anyone on the Serbian political scene, including our coalition partners."

"We have no time for that, and morality requires us to act differently and not behave others have behaved."

Vučić reiterated that "in the fight against corruption," all 24 disputed privatization (cases) identified by the EU would be "finished."

He did not wish to answer questions about the investigations being conducted and which are mentioned in the media.

Commenting on EU's decision last Friday that Serbia should start its membeship talks "not later than January," Vučić said that Serbia was "certainly given the green light for the start of accession negotiations which will irrespective of the malice of some politicians begin no later than in January."

"It was good and important news for Serbia because we got confirmation that we are recognized and accepted by the EU as an important and reliable partner that respects agreements and that gives everyone an equal chance. Serbia joining the EU and getting a date does not solve all our problems and here we come to the key problems we face today - it is that we will have to live from our own work. There is solidarity but not charity in the union."

Vučić then said this would be "a guideline" in the upcoming reshuffle. He added that it will be "of great importance that for the first time after 20 years our work and economy will be the priority, and not politics."

He told reporters that it was good that after June 28 and the EU decisions there was no "great celebration and excitement," because "big, hard and difficult work that we have to undertake alone awaits Serbia."

"There are a number of major changes and big sacrifices. Will amend the Labor Law, shorten bureaucratic procedures, we will introduce e-government and the Office for the Quick Answers. Our goal is that this generation overcomes all these troubles and hardships and provides something better and more for generations to come."

Asked whether Serbia will be able to fulfill everything by the end of the year so that accession negotiations can begin in January, Vučić said that "Serbia does not face easy tasks in the implementation of the Brussels agreement, but that it will not be as some think ' the swan song'."

He added that "many doubted this government when it undertook to solve the Kosovo problem and when it started to fight against corruption."

Vučić was also quoted as saying that "a chair for Kosovo in the UN will not be a condition for the start of accession negotiations," and Serbia "will not accept the new conditions."