On 28 October, in line with article 205 paragraph 1 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure, the deputies stopped the discussion on the agenda for the Third Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly to pose parliamentary questions to the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic, Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic, Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic, Minister of Trade Slobodan Milosavljevic, Minister of Telecommunications Jasna Matic, Minister for National Investment Plan Verica Kalanovic and Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic responded to the deputies’ questions.

Deputy Riza Halimi asked whether the Government was planning to secure the conditions for the return of asylum seekers from the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja who had left Serbia in 1999 and help them exercise their fundamental human rights. He said that they were now unable to get personal documents and residence certificates in the areas where they own property and that vehicles bearing Kosovo license plates were not allowed entry into these municipalities. Halimi reminded the ministers that he had already posed a similar question to the Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic responded that he also would forward this additional question to Minister Dacic.

Deputy Velimir Ilic pointed out the grave economic situation in the country and high unemployment rate. He said that the Government did nothing to boost production and employment, reminding that about a million people were unemployed.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that this year’s economic growth would amount to about 2%, and the export would be increased by about 19%, but that it was still not enough to reduce the unemployment rate which is Serbia’s biggest problem. Even though life is difficult, Serbia has managed to preserve its macroeconomic stability and achieve a higher economic growth than the neighbouring countries. Djelic said that Serbia is still emerging from the crisis and that the Government aims to reduce the unemployment rate, particularly in less developed municipalities and among young people.

Deputy Jovan Damjanovic highlighted the difficult position of the Roma, particularly Roma children, in the municipalities of Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavic, Gnjilane, Bujanovac and other and asked what the Government was doing to integrate them into society.

Deputy Prime Minister Djelic, who is also the President of the National Roma Inclusion Council, responded that it was in Serbia’s interest to adequately integrate the Roma minority, adding that the Strategy and Action Plan for the Improvement of the Position of Roma had been adopted for the purpose. Funds have been allocated from the Serbian and local community budgets, as well as from the NIP, for concrete actions to assist the Roma community, primarily to enable higher employment and secure cheaper housing.

Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic said that, in the past two years, the authorities have created the legal conditions to include a high number of Roma minority members into the education system and attempted to secure schoolbooks and other educational equipment for as many Roma children as possible.

Deputy Zoran Ostojic asked whether the next year’s budget system law would abide by the provision from the Law on Local Self-Government Financing stating that they should be allocated 1.7% of the gross domestic product. He pointed out that the transfers towards the local self-government have been cut drastically which contradicts the ongoing decentralisation.

Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic stated that the municipalities could not count on higher transfer from the Republic of Serbia budget next year as the tax reform and modification of tax rates which would have enabled higher budgetary income had not been completed. Thus, the Law on Local Self-Government Financing would not be followed next year either. Currently, amendments to the Property Tax Law are being drafted to best address the issue of taxation of the wealthier citizens, stressed the Minister of Finance and added that it would provide more funds for the local self-governments.

Following up on the answer, Zoran Ostojic asked whether once the Law on Public Property is passed the municipalities would be given back their property as that is the basis of decentralisation, along with the original proceeds such as property proceeds.

Deputy Milos Aligrudic asked whether Ministry of Defense Sate Secretary Dusan Spasojevic’s statement, published on the NATO official website, that Serbia is ready to become a member of the military pact reflects the Government’s position.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that he was unaware of the Ministry of Defense Sate Secretary’s statement, but that Serbia is a militarily neutral country according to the National Assembly’s ruling and Government’s policy. Serbia, like many others, takes part in the Partnership for Peace programme and cooperates with NATO as part of it. In addition, Serbia will take part in EU peace missions approved by the UN, and has commenced talks with the EU to that end so as to define the modalities of their cooperation.

Milos Aligrudic said that he had received an answer in principle, but that competent ministry representatives make statements saying that Serbia’s accession to the European Union would be completed by its joining the NATO alliance. Bozidar Djelic responded that Serbia is a sovereign country that has the right to take or not take part in certain integrations and reminded that any alteration to the doctrine would call for a referendum and the citizens’ vote on the matter.

Deputy Borislav Pelevic asked what the Government was doing to prevent the arrogant conduct of EULEX and Kosovo special police force members in the north part of Kosovska Mitrovica.

The question will be forwarded to the Government in written form.

Reminding that the Serbian Radical Party Deputy Group had requested a suspension of the sale of “Telekom” currently debated by the National Assembly as it compromised Serbia’s interests, deputy Dejan Mirovic asked what the reasons for its sale were exactly.

Deputy Prime Minister Djelic stressed that the Government would request additional guarantees in the sale of “Telekom” shares and would not be governed by economic logic alone. The buyer will be requested to guarantee the Serbian citizens a certain level of services, primarily general availability of landline telephony. He reminded that the “Telekom’s” full value was estimated at 2.3 billion EUR and the sale of 50% of its shares would provide the money for the construction of roads.

To Mirovic’s statement that “Telekom” should not be sold, Djelic responded that there is no danger that “Telekom” might become part of a larger company. Strategic partnership would allow Serbia a stronger position in the region in the sphere of telecommunications, and the construction of roads would stimulate economic growth and attract investment.

Deputy Vesna Marjanovic asked Deputy Prime Minister Djelic about the decision to forward Serbia’s EU candidacy – what Serbia’s next steps would be on the road to EU accession. She also pointed out the need for better cooperation between the Government and Parliament and making sure that Bills arrive into assembly procedure in a timely manner.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic announced that the European Commission questionnaire would be handed to Serbia personally by the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Füle, on 24 November. He believes that Serbia would fill in the questionnaire, containing four to five thousand questions, as quickly as possible.

Deputy Miroslav Markicevic pointed out the problems arising from the disregard of the Law on Local Self-Government Financing and asked the Minister of Finance why neither state administration had been reduced and nor savings measures enforced.

Minister Diana Dragutinovic said that the central government did not rob the local government in the previous period, but the proceeds have dropped due to a decreased expenditure and expenditure tax. The two branches of government are partners who should share a destiny in these times of crisis, said the Minister of Finance.

Deputy Nebojsa Randjelovic asked about the organisation of the European Handball Championship which is supposed to take place in Nis and requires the construction of a sports hall in the town.

Minister for National Investment Plan Verica Kalanovic responded that the World Handball Federation had informed the Serbian Handball Association that another town would be selected for the championship considering that Nis could not secure the appropriate conditions. She stated that the construction of a new hall required considerable funds that the Ministries of Youth and Sports and National Investment Plan could not provide.

Deputy Donka Banovic asked what the Government would do about the announcement of five unions that they would organise a protest and collect a million signatures to depose the Government.

Minister of Trade Slobodan Milosavljevic said that he was unaware of the unions’ demands, but that the Government was doing all in its power to assist the workers and pensioners and all citizens to overcome their social problems.

Deputy Donka Banovic said that the union protests have been provoked by the recently proposed amendments and modifications to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance.

Deputy Mico Rogovic asked what the Government would do regarding the legalisation of tractors and other agricultural machinery.

Minister of Trade Slobodan Milosavljevic said that it was a sales relationship matter between the owners and buyers of agricultural machinery, and that it was regulated by law.

Deputy Aleksandar Martinovic asked how it was possible that the Government, in this difficult economic situation, could decide to increase the reward for information on the Hague defendants Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, and what budgetary positions it would use for the payment.

Answering the question, Deputy Prime Minister Djelic said that the rewards for the information which would lead to the discovery and arrest of the Hague defendants would be paid from the budget.

Deputy Jelena Trivan asked whether, today, for the first time, Serbia’s situation calls for importing food. She also asked whether the privatisation of Mobtel had improved the company’s business dealings.

Minister of Trade Slobodan Milosavljevic said that the Government had not decided to import milk and stressed that the export of agricultural products has been on the rise both this and last year.

Answering the second question, Minister of Telecommunications Jasna Matic said that since its arrival Telenor had revived the Serbian market and the citizens enjoy better quality mobile telephony services.

Deputy Judita Popovic asked when the Government was planning to refund the local self-government and AP Vojvodina.

Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic repeated that the Government would soon consider the laws on public property and restitution, after which they would be forwarded to the National Assembly.