Tadić on crisis, EU, Kosovo, Vojvodina

President Boris Tadic has announced that the government will act in a "timely and decisive fashion" as it tackles the economic crisis. He told FoNet news agency in an interview on Sunday that the potential of the recently adopted government measures is "exceptional", but that these measures must adjust to the effects of the crisis. Tadic on crisis, EU, Kosovo, Vojvodina One natural step in defending the national currency is to spend some hard currency reserves in the market in order to create a balance, Tadic said, and added that "Serbia is eagerly awaiting the EUR 400mn from Russia for the NIS sale". This money, according to the president, will positively influence the strength of the Serbian dinar (RSD). Tadic also announced new changes to the Law on Excise, and said that the Cvetkovic cabinet came up with an analysis that "showed the state would stand to lose in the next four years" because of the controversial amendment passed in parliament recently. Asked whether "tycoon interests" influenced the amendment's adoption, Tadic said that he did not have "enough facts to prove it". As for Serbia's EU membership ambition, the president said that an initiative heard recently to submit candidate application during the Czech presidency "needs to be analyzed carefully", and mentioned full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal as "the condition of all conditions" for EU integrations. Tadic conceded that EU's enlargement will not go with "expected drive", and said that "a new impulse and a different energy" are needed to overcome the obstacles ahead of Serbia. He stated that Belgrade's recent invitation to the EU to send a mission to Belgrade that would appraise Serbia's cooperation with the tribunal is "a new approach, since Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's report is strictly legal and does not bring enough benefit to Belgrade". Tadic also reacted to criticism from some quarters that he was "the only president" who had not congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama on his recent inauguration, and said that he had congratulated after Obama won last year's presidential election. "It is not a diplomatic practice to congratulate on inaugurations," he said. According to Tadic, it is in Serbia's interest to have the best possible relations with Washington, "although having diametrically opposing positions" when it comes to Kosovo. "We cannot neglect our relations with the U.S. and they have a deeply strategic character," he said, and stressed that there are "three pillars" of Serbia's foreign policy: the EU, Russia, and the United States. Speaking about the situation in Kosovo, Tadic urged the six-point plan to be implemented as soon as possible, "because it was adopted by the UN Security Council". "Serbia puts her strategic goal of preserving the territorial integrity at the highest level and we will continue to fight to preserve Kosovo and Metohija." As for Serbia's northern province of Vojvodina, the president called on "passions to calm down and things to be viewed in a rational fashion" when it comes to the statute debate, and said that Vojvodina has a right to autonomy. According to him, the province will not have legislative or judiciary, but it will have executive powers. The president also denied that his Democratic Party (DS) was split over the statute issue. As for criticism that he is overstepping his own jurisdiction and usurping the power in the country, Tadic rejected it, saying he respects the Constitution. Tadic speaks to a FoNet reporter on Sunday (FoNet)

Tadić on crisis, EU, Kosovo, Vojvodina

One natural step in defending the national currency is to spend some hard currency reserves in the market in order to create a balance, Tadić said, and added that "Serbia is eagerly awaiting the EUR 400mn from Russia for the NIS sale".

This money, according to the president, will positively influence the strength of the Serbian dinar (RSD).

Tadić also announced new changes to the Law on Excise, and said that the Cvetković cabinet came up with an analysis that "showed the state would stand to lose in the next four years" because of the controversial amendment passed in parliament recently.

Asked whether "tycoon interests" influenced the amendment's adoption, Tadić said that he did not have "enough facts to prove it".

As for Serbia's EU membership ambition, the president said that an initiative heard recently to submit candidate application during the Czech presidency "needs to be analyzed carefully", and mentioned full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal as "the condition of all conditions" for EU integrations.

Tadić conceded that EU's enlargement will not go with "expected drive", and said that "a new impulse and a different energy" are needed to overcome the obstacles ahead of Serbia.

He stated that Belgrade's recent invitation to the EU to send a mission to Belgrade that would appraise Serbia's cooperation with the tribunal is "a new approach, since Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's report is strictly legal and does not bring enough benefit to Belgrade".

Tadić also reacted to criticism from some quarters that he was "the only president" who had not congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama on his recent inauguration, and said that he had congratulated after Obama won last year's presidential election.

"It is not a diplomatic practice to congratulate on inaugurations," he said.

According to Tadić, it is in Serbia's interest to have the best possible relations with Washington, "although having diametrically opposing positions" when it comes to Kosovo.

"We cannot neglect our relations with the U.S. and they have a deeply strategic character," he said, and stressed that there are "three pillars" of Serbia's foreign policy: the EU, Russia, and the United States.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo, Tadić urged the six-point plan to be implemented as soon as possible, "because it was adopted by the UN Security Council".

"Serbia puts her strategic goal of preserving the territorial integrity at the highest level and we will continue to fight to preserve Kosovo and Metohija."

As for Serbia's northern province of Vojvodina, the president called on "passions to calm down and things to be viewed in a rational fashion" when it comes to the statute debate, and said that Vojvodina has a right to autonomy.

According to him, the province will not have legislative or judiciary, but it will have executive powers.

The president also denied that his Democratic Party (DS) was split over the statute issue.

As for criticism that he is overstepping his own jurisdiction and usurping the power in the country, Tadić rejected it, saying he respects the Constitution.