Deputy PM Vučić says he expects "concrete date"

BELGRADE Aleksandar Vucic has said that he hoped there would be no early parliamentary elections and that a government reshuffle will take place in July. Serbia's first deputy prime minister also told B92 TV in Belgrade late on Sunday and that he expected Serbia to get "a concrete date" for starting accession talks with the EU on June 28. Deputy PM Vucic says he expects "concrete date" Vucic said no decision has been made on early parliamentary elections, but he hopes the ruling coalition will be able to accomplish everything of importance for the country without elections. Asked whether the Ministry of Finance and Economy, headed by United Regions of Serbia (URS) leader Mladjan Dinkic will be split, Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Vucic said this "cannot happen without new elections and a new coalition agreement." The ruling coalition is made up of the SNS, the Socialist Party of Serbia and the URS. Vucic said there will be a government reshuffle in July and the SNS will replace at least ten state secretaries, deputies and assistant ministers. He added the reshuffle will take place after the EU's date decision and added that "this important obligation will be completed" in July. Regarding Serbia's accession talks date, Vucic said Serbia has fulfilled every single commitment it has made, noting that financing of northern Kosovo is transparent. Responding to claims in some media that Serbia has not met the EU's demands, Vucic said this is not true. "I said in Brussels that no one can toy with Serbia or demean it, that we are a serious partner and there is not a single thing Serbia has promised and has not done," said Vucic. Vucic said Belgrade has chosen a person whom Pristina will formally appoint to the post of regional police commander for northern Kosovo. "This has been agreed and Brussels has accepted this," said Vucic. According to Vucic, the two sides still need to reach an agreement on an amnesty law, they are close to a deal on telecommunications, but have not come to terms on energy where the dispute is over Lake Gazivode. Vucic reiterated he expects Serbia to get an exact date on June 28, "because it deserves one," adding this would be "a historic event" for Serbia. "I think we will get a date, because Serbia deserves it. Is it possible we will not get one? Yes, but I believe we will," he said. (Beta, file) B92 Tanjug

Deputy PM Vučić says he expects "concrete date"

Vučić said no decision has been made on early parliamentary elections, but he hopes the ruling coalition will be able to accomplish everything of importance for the country without elections.

Asked whether the Ministry of Finance and Economy, headed by United Regions of Serbia (URS) leader Mlađan Dinkić will be split, Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Vučić said this "cannot happen without new elections and a new coalition agreement."

The ruling coalition is made up of the SNS, the Socialist Party of Serbia and the URS.

Vučić said there will be a government reshuffle in July and the SNS will replace at least ten state secretaries, deputies and assistant ministers.

He added the reshuffle will take place after the EU's date decision and added that "this important obligation will be completed" in July.

Regarding Serbia's accession talks date, Vučić said Serbia has fulfilled every single commitment it has made, noting that financing of northern Kosovo is transparent.

Responding to claims in some media that Serbia has not met the EU's demands, Vučić said this is not true.

"I said in Brussels that no one can toy with Serbia or demean it, that we are a serious partner and there is not a single thing Serbia has promised and has not done," said Vučić.

Vučić said Belgrade has chosen a person whom Priština will formally appoint to the post of regional police commander for northern Kosovo.

"This has been agreed and Brussels has accepted this," said Vučić.

According to Vučić, the two sides still need to reach an agreement on an amnesty law, they are close to a deal on telecommunications, but have not come to terms on energy where the dispute is over Lake Gazivode.

Vučić reiterated he expects Serbia to get an exact date on June 28, "because it deserves one," adding this would be "a historic event" for Serbia.

"I think we will get a date, because Serbia deserves it. Is it possible we will not get one? Yes, but I believe we will," he said.