PM clarifies statement about sacking officials in Kosovo

BELGRADE PM Ivica Dacic on Tuesday explained that his statement about the sacking of Serb officials in northern Kosovo concerned only those appointed by the government. This does not include representatives of Serb municipalities, he was quoted as saying. PM clarifies statement about sacking officials in Kosovo "When I spoke yesterday about nobody being able to hold a state office, I did not mean the Serbs who work in schools, hospitals and municipalities. I spoke about those officials who are appointed by the Serbian government," Dacic told reporters in Belgrade as he attended a ceremony to mark 30 years since the passing of Aleksandar Rankovic, Yugoslavia's former vice-president. "Nobody can represent the government, and conduct a policy that is opposite to the policy of the government," he reiterated. "I said this to their faces as well. Do you think the state is so powerless and inept that it will allow somebody to gamble with it," said Dacic. He went on to tell reporters that he "no longer expected" that representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo will take part in the local elections scheduled for November 3, but noted that "they are not the only Serbs who live there." "A policy that does not take reality into account has not chance to succeed. I will not be the premier who will lead wars that are lost in advance," he was quoted as saying. Dacic then stated that the government "will not ask Serbs in Kosovo to take part in the elections if ballot papers bear the insignia of 'the Republic of Kosovo'." Dacic also touched on the consultations on the government reshuffle, and said they should be completed this week, along with sessions of the government and meetings within the ruling parties, while the Serbian parliament should convene next week. The appointment process for new ministers will begin at the parliament session, said Dacic. Dacic recalled that he will meet with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Brussels on August 27, while a UN Security Council session on Kosovo is set for August 29. "So this is really the only time slot we have to finish the government reshuffle," Dacic told reporters. Commenting on media claims that "there are problems inside his Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS)," one of the members of the ruling coalition, Dacic said this was "completely unrealistic." "There are no problems or lack of unity within the SPS. It is all normal political life," said Dacic. (Photo courtesy of the MUP) Beta Tanjug

PM clarifies statement about sacking officials in Kosovo

"When I spoke yesterday about nobody being able to hold a state office, I did not mean the Serbs who work in schools, hospitals and municipalities. I spoke about those officials who are appointed by the Serbian government," Dačić told reporters in Belgrade as he attended a ceremony to mark 30 years since the passing of Aleksandar Ranković, Yugoslavia's former vice-president.

"Nobody can represent the government, and conduct a policy that is opposite to the policy of the government," he reiterated.

"I said this to their faces as well. Do you think the state is so powerless and inept that it will allow somebody to gamble with it," said Dačić.

He went on to tell reporters that he "no longer expected" that representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo will take part in the local elections scheduled for November 3, but noted that "they are not the only Serbs who live there."

"A policy that does not take reality into account has not chance to succeed. I will not be the premier who will lead wars that are lost in advance," he was quoted as saying.

Dačić then stated that the government "will not ask Serbs in Kosovo to take part in the elections if ballot papers bear the insignia of 'the Republic of Kosovo'."

Dačić also touched on the consultations on the government reshuffle, and said they should be completed this week, along with sessions of the government and meetings within the ruling parties, while the Serbian parliament should convene next week.

The appointment process for new ministers will begin at the parliament session, said Dačić.

Dačić recalled that he will meet with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Brussels on August 27, while a UN Security Council session on Kosovo is set for August 29.

"So this is really the only time slot we have to finish the government reshuffle," Dačić told reporters.

Commenting on media claims that "there are problems inside his Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS)," one of the members of the ruling coalition, Dačić said this was "completely unrealistic."

"There are no problems or lack of unity within the SPS. It is all normal political life," said Dačić.