On 29 October, at 4 pm., in line with article 200 paragraph 1 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure, the deputies posed various questions to the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

The questions were answered by: the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mirko Cvetkovic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic, Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic, Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic, Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic and Minister of Telecommunication and Information Society Jasna Matic.

The following deputies posed questions: Slobodan Samardzic, Vladan Batic, Riza Halimi, Velimir Ilic, Cedomir Jovanovic, Zoran Masic, Milos Aligrudic, Stojanka Petkovic, Aleksandar Martinovic, Srdjan Mikovic, Zlata Djeric, Judita Popovic and Jorgovanka Tabakovic.

Independent deputy Vladan Batic asked three questions: the first pertained to expropriation and displacement of citizens living in the village of Vreoci, Municipality of Lazeravac. Batic asked the Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic when the citizens would receive the promised 1000 EUR for their free shares and the third question related to the status of the employees of “7 July Clothing” in Kursumlija.

Deputy Riza Halimi repeated the question asked of the Minister of Economy and Regional Development on 6 March this year, regarding the discrimination in the auctioning of commercial enterprise “Bratstvo” in Presevo. The second question was directed to the Minister of Infrastructure regarding the newly-constructed section of Presevo-Bujanovac road. The third question dealt with the feasibility study of higher education and possibilities of opening higher education institutions in Presevo valley.

Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic informed the deputies that the Government had decided to open two branches at the higher education institutions in Medvedja, as well as two satellite departments of the Nis University Faculties of Law and Economy. The Minister added that according to plan two more departments would be opened in Bujanovac next year.

The Head of the New Serbia Deputy Group Velimir Ilic asked if 40 of the least developed municipalities in Serbia would receive the transfer funds necessary for their functioning and if the Ministry of Interior was supplying the media with unofficial information, illustrating the question by a specific example.

Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic informed the deputies that all underdeveloped municipalities would receive certain funds before the rebalance and probably after the rebalance. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic said that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the police deliver information of an unofficial character.

The Head of the Liberal Democratic Party Deputy Group Cedomir Jovanovic wanted to know why Serbia was the only country without a clear strategy and vision of how to extricate itself from the crisis, and how the budgetary funds were being spent, referring to specific items of budgetary expenditure.

Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic explained that dramatic drops in demand are characteristic for recession, which was what happened and was evidenced in the substantial adaptation of the balance of payment. In conditions of decreased economic demand the state reacts by a rise in public consumption which is a very clear strategy, the Minister stressed.

Deputy Zoran Masic asked whether the agricultural subsidies would be cut, what next year’s agrarian budget was and whether the government was aware of the grave situation in Sjenica.

Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic said that the Ministry of Agriculture requested about 25 billion for the agrarian budget but it was allocated 15 billion in 2009, however personal income partially neutralised the considerable discrepancy.

The Head of the Democratic Party of Serbia–Vojislav Kostunica Deputy Group Milos Aligrudic asked about the verification of the Vojvodina Statute by the National Assembly and whether there was to be a budget rebalance.

Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic repeated that the budget rebalance had been announced several times.

Deputy Stojanka Petkovic asked three questions. First, whether it was possible to find and prosecute organised perpetrators of criminal offences on the Territory of Zvecan Municipality, viz. the continued assaults on personal property and physical integrity, and whether the Ministry of Justice could offer legal protection to the ones endangered, and the Ministries of Kosovo-Metohija and Agriculture could assist those who were robbed and suffered damages.

Minister Dacic reminded the deputies that since 1999 Serbia no longer has representatives of the Ministry of Interior on the territory of Kosovo-Metohija. Dacic expressed readiness to assist the exchange of information with EULEX along with the other Ministers. The EULEX protocol was signed along with Resolution 1244 and the UN Secretary General’s report containing the six items solely relating to the exchange of information on criminal activities, the Minister explained and added that Serbia would use this option even though the implementation of the protocol has not yet begun, primarily due to the opposition of so-called Pristina authorities.

Deputy Head of the Serbian Radical Party Deputy Group Aleksandar Martinovic asked Prime Minister Cvetkovic what the Government would do regarding the attempt of a part of the international community to revise the Dayton Peace Treaty.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic explained that the policy of the Government of the Republic of Serbia is grounded on two basic principles. The first principle is Serbia’s respect of the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the second is that internal administration is a matter for those who live there, but without majorisation. Cvetkovic expressed hope that an agreement can be reached between the two entities and all constituting nations. When the agreement is reached, Serbia shall recognize all the decisions of the agreement, the Prime Minister added.

Deputy Srdjan Mikovic asked the Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic what was being done to maintain price stability and if the obligations from the memorandum are being observed, and what measures were implemented to control prices.

Minister Milosavljevic said that retail prices rose by about 9.4% between the beginning of the year and the end of September, and that the total growth of retail prices from December to the end of September was 6.2% The cost of life has risen by about 6%, as well as the producer prices of industrial products. The data show that all is within the economic policy envisaged by the 2009 memorandum of economic policy.

Deputy Zlata Djeric wanted to know how many privatisation contracts had been broken since the beginning of privatisation, what the financial damages were and who would bear the consequences of these detrimental contracts. How shall the cut in public and local administration be implemented? The third question the deputy addressed to the Minister of Telecommunication and Information Society Jasna Matic regarding the purchase of bicycles for postmen at a price of 47,164.50 RSD a piece.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic said that about a fifth of all privatisations had been unsuccessful, while four fifths were successful. The Prime Minister added that the damage done by unsuccessful privatisation was considerable, and that the Government wanted to fully investigate each case of unsuccessful privatisation. Regarding the rationalisation of the public sector, the Prime Minister explained that the sum of public expenditure in Serbia exceeds financeable levels. If it did not undergo reform which would bring about a decreased expenditure and elimination of the budget deficit in the middle-term, than the country would be plunged into debt that would be unsustainable in the long-term. That was why the Government launched the project of rationalisation and raising the efficiency of the public sector, the Prime Minister added. Minister Jasna Matic said that she shall forward the question addressed to her to the PTT management structure.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Judita Popovic wanted to know whether the Government discussed putting out of force the ordinances on parts of enterprises and protection of the part of an enterprise the seat of which is on the territory of former SFRY republics, and if something was being done to improve the ordinances. Mirko Cvetkovic proposed that the deputy be sent a written response, particularly since the deputy expressed interest in specific cases, just like Jorgovanka Tabakovic who commented on the recent statement of the Minister of Finance on the intransparency of all budgetary income and results of the Privatisation Agency’s operation, which she deemed disastrous.