President mistrusts "some in Interior Ministry"

BELGRADE Tomislav Nikolic says he feels "as safe as any Serbian citizen, but that it is important to determine which of the threats he received recently are serious." "The threats I have been receiving are just a few in a series of threats, and it is important to establish which ones are serious, and which ones are not," the president said late on Wednesday, adding that he has no confidence in individuals at the Ministry of Interior. President mistrusts "some in Interior Ministry" "My public statements are aimed at getting someone to start thinking about the fact that the president of Serbia is not just one in a number of people protected by the Ministry of Interior, and that they should be treating me in a manner that is at least equivalent to the manner in which their department heads, directors and ministers are treated," Nikolic told TV Prva. Asked if he has confidence in the Ministry of Interior, Nikolic said that he has confidence in all people who are in charge of anyone's security, noting that "an institution is one thing, while individuals are another". Asked if this means that he has "no confidence in individuals at the Ministry of Interior," Nikolic answered in the affirmative. (Beta, file) Elections Tomislav Nikolic also said that he was not the one to decide on snap parliamentary elections and whether the parties of the ruling coalition should go separate ways if they cannot perform the duties for which they were granted the mandate. "If they can perform the duties for which they were granted the mandate, they should do that, and if they cannot- then they should go separate ways. New elections will show that Serbia will have the government which can do that," Nikolic stated. Nikolic noted that he sees that political partners are in contact, but that it seems to him that the Socialists, who are the coalition partner of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), are trying to make him voice his personal stance on early elections. "As regards my personal stance, the SPS leader (Ivica Dacic) can always call me and I will tell him," Nikolic said. "Although the Socialists think that I am the one that should decide on elections, that is not true," Nikolic said, adding that he can help "the parties reconcile", but cannot decide instead of them. Tanjug

President mistrusts "some in Interior Ministry"

"My public statements are aimed at getting someone to start thinking about the fact that the president of Serbia is not just one in a number of people protected by the Ministry of Interior, and that they should be treating me in a manner that is at least equivalent to the manner in which their department heads, directors and ministers are treated," Nikolić told TV Prva.

Asked if he has confidence in the Ministry of Interior, Nikolić said that he has confidence in all people who are in charge of anyone's security, noting that "an institution is one thing, while individuals are another".

Asked if this means that he has "no confidence in individuals at the Ministry of Interior," Nikolić answered in the affirmative.

Elections

Tomislav Nikolić also said that he was not the one to decide on snap parliamentary elections and whether the parties of the ruling coalition should go separate ways if they cannot perform the duties for which they were granted the mandate.

"If they can perform the duties for which they were granted the mandate, they should do that, and if they cannot- then they should go separate ways. New elections will show that Serbia will have the government which can do that," Nikolić stated.

Nikolić noted that he sees that political partners are in contact, but that it seems to him that the Socialists, who are the coalition partner of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), are trying to make him voice his personal stance on early elections.

"As regards my personal stance, the SPS leader (Ivica Dačić) can always call me and I will tell him," Nikolić said.

"Although the Socialists think that I am the one that should decide on elections, that is not true," Nikolić said, adding that he can help "the parties reconcile", but cannot decide instead of them.