The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, set Thursday, 24 February 2011, starting at 10 a.m., as Day to respond to parliamentary questions regarding the current issues: “Defining the policy of the Republic of Serbia towards AP Kosovo-Metohija in the context of Council of Europe rapporteur Dick Marty’s Report”, proposed by the Serbian Radical Party Parliamentary Group and “Business dealings – problems in the management and transformation of public enterprises”, proposed by the Liberal Democratic Party Parliamentary Group.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the parliamentary groups Nenad Popovic Ivan Andric, Tomislav Nikolic and Aleksandar Martinovic requested information and explanations in line with article 286 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mirko Cvetkovic, Minister of Labour and Social Policy and President of the National Council for Cooperation with The Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajic, Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic, Minister of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjic, Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Skundric and Minister of Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic responded to the questions.

The questions were posed by deputies Aleksandar Martinovic, Ivan Andric, Esad Dzudzevic, Nenad Popovic, Bojan Djuric, Tomislav Nikolic, Boris Aleksic, Ljiljana Zdravkovic, Riza Halimi, Zlata Djeric, Vesna Pesic, Zoran Nikolic, Ljubomir Kragovic, Velimir Ilic, Milan Lapcevic, Milan Avramovic, Nada Kolundzija and Zoran Krasic.

Deputy Aleksandar Martinovic asked whether the Government of the Republic of Serbia has a clear platform as to which state bodies and institutions should investigate the trafficking in human organs in Kosovo-Metohija and if the Government would talk to Hasim Taci about anything regarding Dick Marty’s Report.

Minister Rasim Ljajic said that the activities in the upcoming period lie on two stages, one on the diplomatic level, and the second in the realm of pure law. The Minister explained that under “diplomacy” he means ensuring United Nations’ support for the creation of an ad hoc mechanism that would enable the whole matter to come to a court final. The second stage, in the realm of law, is to transfer the matter into that sphere and again prove that the whole situation is not an excuse for Serbia to eschew the beginning of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and that it is in Serbia’s highest interest to investigate the fate of the 524 missing persons in Kosovo. He added, that there is a third option that might also be acceptable for Serbia – the so-called EULEX plus. That would mean EULEX with its capacities in the field taking over the further processing and at the same time allowing an independent international prosecutor to orchestrate the investigation.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mirko Cvetkovic reaffirmed that this is a criminal activity that should not be politicized but that everyone should strive to protect all the victims of the crime. He stressed that, in future, the Government will do all in its power to institute a single system where all those culpable with be called to justice. Cvetkovic stated that the general attitude is that the situation calls for a detailed and objective investigation. The Government of the Republic of Serbia will push for an adequate and acceptable mechanism that would guarantee a competent, objective and complete investigation.

Deputy Ivan Andric asked whether in the announced reconstruction of the Government the prime minister or prime minister designate would propose to his coalition partners a cessation of the “feudal” management of public enterprises so as to avoid another Kolubara and malversation in any other public enterprise, and if the coalition agreements among the ruling parties would change. Andric also wanted to know whether the ruling parties’ right to appoint the public enterprises’ boards of directors and managers would be abolished.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic pointed out that the Government he is running has made considerable and key progress towards instating competition into the public enterprise sector on the republican level i.e. started to withdraw from the management structures of said enterprises. Cvetkovic also commented on the issue of delegating state representatives into the boards of directors of state owned enterprises. He believes that it would be strange, in view of the ownership, that the state as the owner gives up on delegating its representatives into the boards of directors.

Deputy Esad Dzudzevic related the Bosniak list’s strong support of the investigation related to Dick Marty’s Report, as well as the investigating and processing of all those culpable for the crimes on the Balkans. He asked Minister Malovic what had been done so far to investigate and process those responsible for the war crimes against the Bosniak population in Sandzak in the period from 1992 to 1995.

Minister Malovic assured the deputy that she had received his question and forwarded it to the War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office and that Dzudzevic would receive an answer from the Ministry of Justice once it received the answer from the Prosecutor’s Office.

Deputy Nenad Popovic said that the Democratic Party of Serbia is staunchly against the announced sale of “Telekom”. He asked the Prime Minister if it was true that “Telekom” had raised its employees’ salaries by 10% in December, and by 15% in January.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic stated that the Government believes that “Telekom” should be sold, but now below price. Answering the question about the raises in ”Telekom”, Cvetkovic said that he was not aware of it, but that he will make inquiries into the matter and send a written reply.

Deputy Bojan Djuric asked who proposed the directors in JAR Airways, Serbian Railroads, Serbia Gas, Kolubara and Electric Power Industry of Serbia and their names were. Djuric also asked Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Skundric about the profit of the public enterprises within his sector in 2010.

Minister Mrkonjic said that the general manager of JAT, now its acting director, is a person who has spent his whole professional life in JAT and is fully competent to perform that duty. He said that none of the employees of Serbian Roads are member of the socialist party, and that the director of Serbian Railroads is an engineer with 30 years’ experience and that the situation is similar in the other public enterprises.

Minister Petar Skundric stated that as far as the business dealings of Serbia Gas last year are concerned, the company did not run a loss. He noted that after a long time NIS ran a considerable profit, more than 10 billion RSD i.e. 100 million EUR in 2010.

Deputy Tomislav Nikolic asked if the Government would propose that the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia vote on the Resolution adopted by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic again stressed that the Government strives for a single mechanism which would be internationally acceptable for an investigation on all levels. He confirmed that the Government is not against the active role of EULEX, but was afraid that EULEX does not have the mandate to investigate on foreign territory. He explained that in that context, an initiative was launched at the United Nations. Minister Ljajic added that all Serbian deputies, members of the European Parliament, had the opportunity to present their view, which is also the general attitude – the endorsement of Dick Marty’s Report.

Deputy Boris Aleksic asked why the Serbian authorities were concealing evidence on human organ trade.

Minister Malovic opined that the statement that the state bodies of the Republic of Serbia are concealing such evidence is untrue. She explained that the activities of the War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office brought up the issue of human organs trade before the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and that Dick Marty’s Report is to a great extent the result of the efforts of the Prosecutor’s Office. Minister Ljajic added that after 2001, the then coordination centre for Kosovo-Metohija handed in extensive documentation to all relevant international institutions from the Council of Europe to the State Department, to human rights organisations, containing evidence of the crimes perpetrated in Kosovo, and among them indications of human organs trade.

On the behalf of the honest workers of Kolubara, deputy Ljiljana Zdravkovic appealed to the competent authorities to investigate the Kolubara case and bring it to a resolution. She asked Minister Malovic how far had the investigation come and if the citizens of Serbia can expect that no one will be protected in it.

Minister Malovic informed everyone present that the case is currently before the Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and if it is found to fall within its jurisdiction the case will be processed before the Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and the court department dealing with such cases.

Deputy Riza Halimi wanted to know if the Government is against politicizing Dick Marty’s Report, why a topic with a politicized context was accepted and how can the policy for Kosovo be defined in the context of the Report when Marty strives for processing of all war criminals by having everyone answer for the crimes perpetrated.

Minister Bogdanovic stressed that the Government calls for the processing of all crimes, not only in Kosovo-Metohija, but all the crimes in the former SFRY. That goes for the territory of Kosovo-Metohija as much as the events in the south of Serbia, Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja.

Deputy Zlata Djeric asked why the debt to EPS receives different treatments, and why the EPS was collecting illegal fees for the subsequent installation of receptacle. She also asked if two laws were being broken in the collection of the TV subscription, the Law on Data Confidentiality and Law on Obligations.

Minister Skundric explained that the Electric Power Industry of Serbia was suggested to reprogram the debts both as regards households and as regards economic subjects wherever it’s possible. He stated that at the moment the Electric Power Industry of Serbia is owed about 700 million EUR. Skundric explained that EPS did not want to collect the TV subscription but it was mandated to do so by a Government decision. He said that he agrees that TV subscription should be collected in another way.

Deputy Vesna Pesic opined that public enterprises on both the republican and local level do not function on the principle of corruption but primarily as political enterprises and that the elected management of said enterprises is composed by persons lacking proper expertise.

Deputy Zoran Nikolic asked Prime Minister Cvetkovic how the proceeds would be spent if “Telekom” is sold.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic answered that the proceeds would be spent in a transparent and clear manner and not for ambiguous purposes and that the National Assembly would decide how the funds would be spent.

Deputy Ljubomir Kragovic appealed to the Government representatives to make sure that Dick Marty’s Report finally be given the correct image i.e. that all those who committed the biggest crimes be processed and brought to justice.

Minister Bogdanovic restated the Government’s position that the solution of the whole case lies in the creation of an ad hoc investigative mechanism established by the Security Council.

Deputy Velimir Ilic asked Prime Minister Cvetkovic is he was aware of any corruption in PTT public company and why the Prime Minister had not launched an investigation against Kristo in Belgrade Airport.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic stressed that he fully supports any and all combat against crime, adding that the appropriate services, if there is material evidence, will initiate adequate activities.

Quoting Prime Minister Cvetkovic’s statement that after the sale of “Telekom” the new owner should instate a new management which would be professional and without political influence, deputy Milan Lapcevic asked Prime Minister Cvetkovic what management exactly he meant when he said this.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic pointed out to the deputy that he left out the main component when asking the question i.e. that in the current system the enterprise cannot do business in competitive conditions. As long at it is owned by the state the enterprise must abide by certain business rules that are limiting for state-owned enterprises compared to those enterprises which are not.

Deputy Milan Avramovic listed some examples of corruption in some public enterprises stating that the Ministry of Finance should send financial inspectors to said enterprises.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic responded that the budgetary inspection, part of the Ministry of Finance, has its own plans and in according to them is visiting local self-governments.

Deputy Nada Kolundzija asked Prime Minister Cvetkovic what were the strategic solutions the Government is seeking in the treatment and establishment of responsibility in the management of public enterprises.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic said that the Government was working on creating the conditions which would enable the existence of competition thus making it needless for the state to remain the owner. He added that these are long-lasting topics which cannot be solved in the short term and that more attention should be paid to the difference between the pre-existing condition and the condition left behind. The Prime Minister opined that after the current Government’s term of office there will be some significant differences.

Deputy Zoran Krasic asked Prime Minister Cvetkovic if he had seen the list of public enterprises, agencies and salaries of their directors and members of their boards of directors on the Government’s website.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic explained that as far as the payment of the board of directors is concerned, the Government had adopted certain guidelines limiting the salaries of the people it sends to the boards of directors in cases of enterprises and other bodies under majority state control.