Post of foreign minister offered to DS official

BELGRADE Aleksandar Vucic has said that Serbia's future ruling ruling coalition has offered the post of foreign minister to an official of the Democratic Party (DS). Although the Democrats will be an opposition party when a new government is formed, their official Milica Delevic, who currently heads the government's EU integration office, could find herself the head of the country's diplomacy. Post of foreign minister offered to DS official The Serb Progressives (SNS) offered "key positions also to opposing parties", their acting leader told a B92 TV talk show late on Sunday, saying this "proved their magnitude". "It's not easy for her, because I suppose people from her party will not look kindly at this idea. It will be her decision to make whether she wishes to remain at the helm of the office. I think it would be a great step forward for the country," said Vucic, adding that Delevic was yet to provide her final answer, and that he was due to meet with her on Monday. As for the country's future ruling coalition, made up of the SNS, the Socialists (SPS) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS), Vucic said it was "not perfect, but still better than the previous one". If the citizens live better, the SNS will be pleased, he continued, if not - "we will no longer be in power". The party's main board is likely to meet on July 20 to decide on its candidates for government positions, he remarked, without specifying the names of any other possible future ministers. Vucic did say that top SNS official Jorgovanka Tabakovic would assume "one of the most responsible state functions", but would not say which, and would not confirm that the position in question was that at the helm of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS). He also addressed announcements that a new government would introduce the bonus, 13th monthly payment of pensions at the end of the year, saying that it would "partially solve an important problem": "We need EUR 60mn for that, right now we have nothing. We are billions in the red. By the end of the year we need almost three billion. We will unfortunately have to take out more loans with domestic business banks, and that's a real problem." Vucic also noted that the EUR 60mn was "not the end of the world (nor) a measure that would destroy the state". He further stated that he would discuss their future cooperation with future PM Ivica Dacic: "Regardless of our personal differences in the past period, we we both governed by the same goals. We need to talk, to see in what way we see our cooperation. If that's possible, it's possible, if not, then we should see how we can proceed otherwise. I have some questions of my own." Asked whether it was true that DS leader and former President Boris Tadic "created the SNS" - Vucic responded by saying that this was "not true". The Progressives emerged in 2008 after a number of high ranking officials and MPs of the Serb Radicals (SRS) - led by Tomislav Nikolic - decided to break off from the party. Aleksandar Vucic (file) B92

Post of foreign minister offered to DS official

The Serb Progressives (SNS) offered "key positions also to opposing parties", their acting leader told a B92 TV talk show late on Sunday, saying this "proved their magnitude".

"It's not easy for her, because I suppose people from her party will not look kindly at this idea. It will be her decision to make whether she wishes to remain at the helm of the office. I think it would be a great step forward for the country," said Vučić, adding that Delević was yet to provide her final answer, and that he was due to meet with her on Monday.

As for the country's future ruling coalition, made up of the SNS, the Socialists (SPS) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS), Vučić said it was "not perfect, but still better than the previous one".

If the citizens live better, the SNS will be pleased, he continued, if not - "we will no longer be in power".

The party's main board is likely to meet on July 20 to decide on its candidates for government positions, he remarked, without specifying the names of any other possible future ministers.

Vučić did say that top SNS official Jorgovanka Tabaković would assume "one of the most responsible state functions", but would not say which, and would not confirm that the position in question was that at the helm of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS).

He also addressed announcements that a new government would introduce the bonus, 13th monthly payment of pensions at the end of the year, saying that it would "partially solve an important problem":

"We need EUR 60mn for that, right now we have nothing. We are billions in the red. By the end of the year we need almost three billion. We will unfortunately have to take out more loans with domestic business banks, and that's a real problem."

Vučić also noted that the EUR 60mn was "not the end of the world (nor) a measure that would destroy the state".

He further stated that he would discuss their future cooperation with future PM Ivica Dačić:

"Regardless of our personal differences in the past period, we we both governed by the same goals. We need to talk, to see in what way we see our cooperation. If that's possible, it's possible, if not, then we should see how we can proceed otherwise. I have some questions of my own."

Asked whether it was true that DS leader and former President Boris Tadić "created the SNS" - Vučić responded by saying that this was "not true".

The Progressives emerged in 2008 after a number of high ranking officials and MPs of the Serb Radicals (SRS) - led by Tomislav Nikolić - decided to break off from the party.