Dačić won't rule out change of ruling coalition agreement

BELGRADE Ivica Dacic stated on Friday that the ruling coalition agreement may be changed if the United Regions of Serbia does not alter its stance on cabinet changes. They concern also the division of the Ministry of Economy and Finance into two ministries as part of the government reshuffle, said the Serbian prime minister and leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). Dacic won't rule out change of ruling coalition agreement “If the URS does not show readiness for cabinet changes or division of responsibilities, the coalitional agreement will most probably be changed,” Dacic told reporters after a session of the SPS Presidency. Dacic said that he and First Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Serb Progressive Party Aleksandar Vucic agreed that since the economy is one of the greatest challenges in the government's future work it is necessary to divide the Ministry of Economy and Finance. “Our goal is not to tear down the coalition, but there can be no thorough reshuffle if everybody does not participate in it,” Dacic said, stressing that the reshuffle has to include all partners in the ruling coalition or it will not be thorough. Dacic said that at Thursday's meeting of three leaders of the ruling coalition URS leader Mladjan Dinkic said that there will be no replacement of URS members of the cabinet if there is no reduction in the number of ministries. “If he maintains such a position, I think that we will get nearer to a coalition without the URS,” Dacic said. Asked who would be a new potential partner in the government if the URS leaves the ruling coalition, Dacic said that this has not been discussed and that the goal is not to tear down the coalition. “However, there can be no through reshuffle, if everyone does not take part in it,” the SPS leader said. Speaking about the replacement of the SPS ministers, Dacic said that Milutin Mrkonjic proposed that a new minister of transport should be appointed. Asked whether someone else of the SPS ministers will be replaced, Dacic said that the party has not voiced its final stance whether Mrkonjic will be the only one to be changed, adding that this will be defined on Saturday. Dacic said that he will hold a joint press conference with Vucic on Saturday, adding that further steps in the reshuffle will depend on possible changes to the ruling coalition agreement. He expressed expectation that the reshuffle dynamics will be defined until Saturday's press conference in the Serbian government, which will depend on the survival of the current ruling coalition. “We will discuss other issues as well, including internal affairs and education, directors of public companies, state secretaries. We have to be the leaders of changes. If we want to change Serbia, we have to change ourselves first,” Dacic underlined. Asked to comment on the resignation that Vucic offered to the position of defence minister and whether he would be ready to follow such an example given that he holds the offices of prime minister and interior minister, Dacic said that he is ready, but that such question has not been raised. “Aleksandar Vucic is dealing with the issues of coordination of security services, police and prosecution as the National Defence Secretary and I, as the interior minister, had adequate cooperation with him, and I think that this cooperation should continue,” Dacic said. Ivica Dacic arrives to the SPS presidency meeting (Beta) SPS for "thorough reshuffle" The presidency of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) "unilaterally backed a thorough reshuffle of the coalition government," adopted the proposed resignation of Transport Minister Milutin Mrkonjic and stated that the United Regions of Serbia (URS) needs to adopt the decision on separation of ministries of finance and economy. In the release, SPS noted that the party presidency backed a political agreement between Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) as the central party in the coalition Aleksandar Vucic on a thorough and comprehensive reshuffle of the government coalition and all important institutions in the public sector. Such a reshuffle aims to introduce both personnel changes and crucial modifications in the executive government so as to continue achieving long-term goals of the Serbian government's policy with greater efficiency, SPS said. In the first year of its functioning, the coalition government achieved the several decades' long goal by opening the accession talks with the EU, the release stated and noted that this is the result of the launched reforms, progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the successful fight against crime and corruption. In addition to the European integration, the government set as its main goals the interruption of the country's several years' long economic decline, raising the citizens' living standards and employment increase, the text states. At the session, the SPS Presidency unilaterally adopted the proposition of Milutin Mrkonjic that a new minister of transport should be appointed. The SPS presidency analysed the work of all public officials on behalf of the SPS and authorised Dacic as the party leader and prime minister to propose personnel changes in the process of the coalition government reshuffle. The SPS presidency unilaterally backed the joint stand of Dacic and Vucic that the URS as the third partner in the coalition should adopt the decision on personnel changes in the government. As the government's main goal would be the economic and financial consolidation and development, it is crucial to split responsibilities through the separation of the ministry of finance and economy. If this falls through, a new coalition agreement will have to be defined so that the government could continue achieving its goals, the release states. Tanjug

Dačić won't rule out change of ruling coalition agreement

“If the URS does not show readiness for cabinet changes or division of responsibilities, the coalitional agreement will most probably be changed,” Dačić told reporters after a session of the SPS Presidency.

Dačić said that he and First Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Serb Progressive Party Aleksandar Vučić agreed that since the economy is one of the greatest challenges in the government's future work it is necessary to divide the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

“Our goal is not to tear down the coalition, but there can be no thorough reshuffle if everybody does not participate in it,” Dačić said, stressing that the reshuffle has to include all partners in the ruling coalition or it will not be thorough.

Dačić said that at Thursday's meeting of three leaders of the ruling coalition URS leader Mlađan Dinkić said that there will be no replacement of URS members of the cabinet if there is no reduction in the number of ministries.

“If he maintains such a position, I think that we will get nearer to a coalition without the URS,” Dačić said.

Asked who would be a new potential partner in the government if the URS leaves the ruling coalition, Dačić said that this has not been discussed and that the goal is not to tear down the coalition.

“However, there can be no through reshuffle, if everyone does not take part in it,” the SPS leader said.

Speaking about the replacement of the SPS ministers, Dačić said that Milutin Mrkonjic proposed that a new minister of transport should be appointed.

Asked whether someone else of the SPS ministers will be replaced, Dačić said that the party has not voiced its final stance whether Mrkonjic will be the only one to be changed, adding that this will be defined on Saturday.

Dačić said that he will hold a joint press conference with Vučić on Saturday, adding that further steps in the reshuffle will depend on possible changes to the ruling coalition agreement.

He expressed expectation that the reshuffle dynamics will be defined until Saturday's press conference in the Serbian government, which will depend on the survival of the current ruling coalition.

“We will discuss other issues as well, including internal affairs and education, directors of public companies, state secretaries. We have to be the leaders of changes. If we want to change Serbia, we have to change ourselves first,” Dačić underlined.

Asked to comment on the resignation that Vučić offered to the position of defence minister and whether he would be ready to follow such an example given that he holds the offices of prime minister and interior minister, Dačić said that he is ready, but that such question has not been raised.

“Aleksandar Vučić is dealing with the issues of coordination of security services, police and prosecution as the National Defence Secretary and I, as the interior minister, had adequate cooperation with him, and I think that this cooperation should continue,” Dačić said.

SPS for "thorough reshuffle"

The presidency of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) "unilaterally backed a thorough reshuffle of the coalition government," adopted the proposed resignation of Transport Minister Milutin Mrkonjić and stated that the United Regions of Serbia (URS) needs to adopt the decision on separation of ministries of finance and economy.

In the release, SPS noted that the party presidency backed a political agreement between Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) as the central party in the coalition Aleksandar Vučić on a thorough and comprehensive reshuffle of the government coalition and all important institutions in the public sector.

Such a reshuffle aims to introduce both personnel changes and crucial modifications in the executive government so as to continue achieving long-term goals of the Serbian government's policy with greater efficiency, SPS said.

In the first year of its functioning, the coalition government achieved the several decades' long goal by opening the accession talks with the EU, the release stated and noted that this is the result of the launched reforms, progress in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue and the successful fight against crime and corruption.

In addition to the European integration, the government set as its main goals the interruption of the country's several years' long economic decline, raising the citizens' living standards and employment increase, the text states.

At the session, the SPS Presidency unilaterally adopted the proposition of Milutin Mrkonjić that a new minister of transport should be appointed.

The SPS presidency analysed the work of all public officials on behalf of the SPS and authorised Dačić as the party leader and prime minister to propose personnel changes in the process of the coalition government reshuffle.

The SPS presidency unilaterally backed the joint stand of Dačić and Vučić that the URS as the third partner in the coalition should adopt the decision on personnel changes in the government.

As the government's main goal would be the economic and financial consolidation and development, it is crucial to split responsibilities through the separation of the ministry of finance and economy.

If this falls through, a new coalition agreement will have to be defined so that the government could continue achieving its goals, the release states.