Justice minister: No more untouchables in Serbia

BELGRADE Serbia’s Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic says that European Commission has welcomed Delta Holding owner Miroslav Miskovic’s arrest. He added that the EC also encouraged Serbia's European perspective. Justice minister: No more untouchables in Serbia “The arrest was welcomed by the European Commission and like (EU Enlargement) Commissioner (Stefan) Fule said, this is a great encouragement for Serbia’s European perspective. I support the statement and I will add that it is an encouragement for Serbian citizens who can see that the state is not dead,” Selakovic told reporters. Fule’s Spokesman Peter Stano said in Brussels on Wednesday that “Brussels is encouraged by the Serbian government’s moves in combat against corruption” but that he did not want to go into details of the particular case. Selakovic said today that the investigation would further show whether Miskovic seriously threatened First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic after he was arrested. “The words were said in the spur of the moment. If you have a man for whom it was unthinkable that he would end up behind bars, it is certain that many things were said in the spur of the moment and we will see whether the threat was serious, the investigation will show,” he said. The minister assessed that the arrest of Miskovic and another nine persons suspected of abuses during privatization of road companies “is a beginning of bringing order to the state and returning instruments of power into the state’s hands”. “The arrest is an indicator that there are no untouchables and those to whom laws do not apply. This took a lot of courage and political will,” Selakovic explained. Faculty of Political Sciences professor Zoran Stojiljkovic says that the arrest of Miskovic, his son Marko, Nibens Group owner Milo Djuraskovic and other suspects could be an important factor for Serbia’s position at the moment when the EU will decide whether enough has been done. “Miskovic’s case could finally reveal ties between the state and large capitalists,” he added. “Why is this important? Because when you try someone like Miskovic, you know that corruptive framework is something that has to do with state organs, public officials, public company directors and none of those people can have immunity from liability,” Stojiljkovic stressed. Transparency Serbia said on Thursday that it would be very important in combat against corruption to probe the privileged status of Miskovic and other important businessman, adding that secret funding of political parties should also be looked into. Transparency Serbia believes it would be very significant for the anti-corruption efforts to investigate Vucic's claims that certain public officials have been receiving between EUR 30,000 and EUR 50,000 a month from the Delta Holding owner. Nikola Selakovic (Tanjug, file) B92 Beta

Justice minister: No more untouchables in Serbia

“The arrest was welcomed by the European Commission and like (EU Enlargement) Commissioner (Stefan) Fule said, this is a great encouragement for Serbia’s European perspective. I support the statement and I will add that it is an encouragement for Serbian citizens who can see that the state is not dead,” Selaković told reporters.

Fule’s Spokesman Peter Stano said in Brussels on Wednesday that “Brussels is encouraged by the Serbian government’s moves in combat against corruption” but that he did not want to go into details of the particular case.

Selaković said today that the investigation would further show whether Mišković seriously threatened First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić after he was arrested.

“The words were said in the spur of the moment. If you have a man for whom it was unthinkable that he would end up behind bars, it is certain that many things were said in the spur of the moment and we will see whether the threat was serious, the investigation will show,” he said.

The minister assessed that the arrest of Mišković and another nine persons suspected of abuses during privatization of road companies “is a beginning of bringing order to the state and returning instruments of power into the state’s hands”.

“The arrest is an indicator that there are no untouchables and those to whom laws do not apply. This took a lot of courage and political will,” Selaković explained.

Faculty of Political Sciences professor Zoran Stojiljković says that the arrest of Mišković, his son Marko, Nibens Group owner Milo Đurašković and other suspects could be an important factor for Serbia’s position at the moment when the EU will decide whether enough has been done.

“Mišković’s case could finally reveal ties between the state and large capitalists,” he added.

“Why is this important? Because when you try someone like Mišković, you know that corruptive framework is something that has to do with state organs, public officials, public company directors and none of those people can have immunity from liability,” Stojiljković stressed.

Transparency Serbia said on Thursday that it would be very important in combat against corruption to probe the privileged status of Mišković and other important businessman, adding that secret funding of political parties should also be looked into.

Transparency Serbia believes it would be very significant for the anti-corruption efforts to investigate Vučić's claims that certain public officials have been receiving between EUR 30,000 and EUR 50,000 a month from the Delta Holding owner.