Thursday, 18 December 2008

Fourth Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2008

At the Fourth Sitting of the Second Regular Session, convened for 28 November, then postponed for 18 December 2008, the National Assembly discussed the Proposal for a no-confidence vote in the Government of the Republic of Serbia submitted by a group of 86 deputies from the Democratic Party of Serbia – Vojislav Kostunica, New Serbia and Serbian Radical Party deputy groups.



At the Fourth Sitting of the Second Regular Session, convened for 28 November, then postponed for 18 December 2008, the National Assembly discussed the Proposal for a no-confidence vote in the Government of the Republic of Serbia submitted by a group of 86 deputies from the Democratic Party of Serbia – Vojislav Kostunica, New Serbia and Serbian Radical Party deputy groups.

The sitting was attended by the Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic and members of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. By a majority of votes, it was accepted that the discussion on no-confidence in the Government last 10 hours.

At the beginning of the debate, deputy Slobodan Samardzic, representative of the submitters, pointed out that the Government’s policy towards Kosovo-Metohija, its acceptance of the EULEX Mission and the Government’s economic policy are the reasons that set the no-confidence initiative in motion. He estimated that EULEX is not status-neutral and that it is implementing Marti Ahtisaari’s plan. He criticised the parliamentary majority for its failure to conduct a discussion of no-confidence in the Government before the EULEX Mission was deployed, deeming that the policy of protection of the country’s integrity and sovereignty has been changed.

In the address of the deputy groups’ presidents and authorised representatives, the Serbian Radical Party representative, deputy Ljubomir Kragovic stressed that the Constitution and adopted Kosovo-Metohija resolutions have been violated, and that by accepting the EULEX Mission the Government recognises the independence of Kosovo-Metohija. He requested that the public be informed about the so-called six items accepted by the United Nations Security Council previous to the deployment of the EULEX Mission in Kosovo-Metohija.

The President of the Democratic Party of Serbia – Vojislav Kostunica Deputy Group, Milos Aligrudic, stated that no-confidence in the Government of the Republic of Serbia should be voted due to its policy towards Kosovo-Metohija, as well as its inadequate measures for the prevention of the negative effects of the world financial crisis. He deemed the Government’s policy towards Kosovo-Metohija as contrary to the state policy lead until May 2009. He believes that the EULEX Mission in essence implements Marti Ahtisaari’s plan of independence and that there are no arguments for its being accepted since it is not status-neutral.

The President of the Forward Serbia Deputy Group, Tomislav Nikolic stated that this group’s deputies will vote no-confidence in the Government. He declared that the EULEX Mission is not a good solution for Serbia, expressing doubt that the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be respected. He underlined that, in addition to cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, there are other conditions for Serbia’s accession into the European Union, connected with systemic reforms. He appealed to the Government to bring the commenced business with the Russian Federation to a close and warned that European Union membership should not be achieved by “selling” part of Serbia’s territory.

The President of the Liberal Democratic Party Deputy Group, Cedomir Jovanovic stated that the LDP deputies will not vote no-confidence in the Government of the Republic of Serbia. He said that the LDP Deputy Group supports all the government’s pro-European activities expressing his dissatisfaction with the fact that the current convocation of the Assembly has adopted only seven of the “European” laws.

The President of the New Serbia Deputy Group, Velimir Ilic believes that the Government of the Republic of Serbia should not be trusted because it has not fulfilled any of the promises it made when it was formed. He believes that the Government is in breach of the Constitution and adopted decisions and resolutions of the National Assembly and that it is giving up part of the territory. He criticised the Government for impeding big infrastructural projects, the stagnation of the economy and asked how far it has come regarding the so-called white Schengen list, free shares, creating new jobs and the “Fiat” arrangement.

In his address, the independent deputy of the Demo-Christian Party of Serbia, Vladan Batic pointed out that he will not endorse the initiative to vote no-confidence in the Government. He stressed that DCPS supports the Government despite certain disappointments, emphasising that the Democratic party’s vital role in the Government is the guarantee that Serbia is going toward a European future.

The Vice-President of the G17 Plus Deputy Group, Vlajko Senic deemed that the Government has a political future if it remains on the course towards European integration. He believes that the unhidden differences among the coalition partners are one of the Government’s qualities. He estimates that the Government has achieved a diplomatic victory by managing to slow down the process of recognition of Kosovo-Metohija’s independence. He declared that Serbia is making an effort to complete its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and thus remove the last obstacle to its inclusion into the European Union. He stressed that the Government has improved the economic and social policy, that the achieved level of pensions will be preserved in the upcoming year and gave a positive estimate of the cooperation with “Fiat”.

Dragan Markovic Palma, Vice-President of the Socialist Party of Serbia – United Serbia Deputy Group, pointed out the Government’s positive efforts, deeming that it will realise its full mandate in the interest of Serbian citizens. He reminded of the fact that the arrival of the EULEX Mission to Kosovo-Metohija was supported by both Russia and China, and the Government’s resolve never to recognise Kosovo-Metohija’s independence. He pointed out the Government’s difficulties to fulfill all its planned tasks under the impact of the world financial crisis.

The President of the Party of United Pensioners Deputy Group Momo Colakovic said that the PUPS deputies will support the Government of the Republic of Serbia. He believes that the Government’s work has had various positive effects, especially in improving the social position of pensioners and health care for the elderly and socially underprivileged categories of the population. He drew attention to the fact that the processes of improvement of the living conditions of underprivileged categories of the population should be continued, because they will feel the negative effects of the economic crisis the most.

In his address, the President of the Minority Parties Deputy Group, Balint Pastor stressed that the deputies of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians will support the Government because they trust it and support its efforts. He believes that possible new elections would be detrimental, and that Serbia’s priorities are enabling its citizens to travel without visas and candidature for European Union membership. Pastor criticised the Government to a degree for the amount of means allocated by the Budget Bill for AP Vojvodina, underlining that non-acceptance of the AVH’s amendments to the Bill on Court and Public Prosecutors Seats and Districts will not change its support of the Government.

The deputies were then addressed by the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Mirko Cvetkovic. In his address he stressed that there are no arguments for the express positions that the Government has done nothing, stressing that it has noted success in several areas in the past six moths. The Prime Minister reminded them that the endorsement of the UN Resolution on the involvement of the International Court of Justice to rule on the legality of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija is the greatest diplomatic success. He pointed out that the Government will continue to struggle to protect of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by all diplomatic and legal means. He pointed out that, if it wants to be an EU member, Serbia must make a large number of changes in all areas, and in that regard, where legal regulations are concerned, 64 bills and three strategies have been forwarded into Assembly procedure so far.

Focusing on the world economic crisis, Prime Minister Cvetkovic stated that it will not bypass Serbia, and that the Government has formed an operational group which has given its first recommendations. One of them is a restrictive Budget Bill for next year. The Prime Minister believes that the development projects will be realised and that Serbia will come through the economic crisis with a positive growth of the gross domestic product of about 3.5% and an inflation that does not exceed 8% in the upcoming year.

In the afternoon part of work a large number of deputies participated in the debate, giving an estimate of the Government’s work and a list of arguments in favour and against the initiative to vote no-confidence.

Since the National Assembly had completed the unified discussion on the Proposal for a no-confidence vote in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic set Voting Day to follow the completion of the discussion.

Considering that there was no decision-making quorum, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic concluded the Fourth Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2008.



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friday, 29 march
  • 9.00 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Speaker’s Cabinet)

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