On 25 November, in line with article 205 paragraph 1 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure, the deputies adjourned the discussion on the agenda for the Fifth Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly, to pose parliamentary questions to the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Prime Minister Dr Mirko Cvetkovic, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic, Minister of Finance Dr Diana Dragutinovic, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic, Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society Jasna Matic, Minister of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjic and Minister of the Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic responded to the deputies’ questions.

Deputy Riza Halimi said that he had received no response to the questions previously posed to the Minister of Economy and Regional Development regarding the privatisation of Commercial Enterprise “Bratstvo”, and enterprises “Elektrokontakt” and “7th July” in Presevo.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic responded that the deputy would receive a written response.

Deputy Srdjan Spasojevic posed several questions concerning the situation in Kraljevo following the earthquake. The first question was for the Minister of Education about waving the tuition fees for Kraljevo university and college students whose tuition was not covered by the state budget for the 2010/2011 academic year. He also asked the Minster of Energy if it was possible to lower the counter fees and RTS subscription for the citizens of Kraljevo for the next 12 months.

Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic responded that the Government would do all in its power to assist the citizens of Kraljevo. The damage caused by the earthquake is estimated at as much as 100 million EUR so that in 2011 sources would have to be found to finance it. Several ministries will propose measures to assist the citizens and economy of Kraljevo in the wake of the earthquake.

Deputy Cedomir Jovanovic asked what the Government would do to eliminate the irregularities in the judiciary.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic responded that the Government took all of the European Commission’s comments and suggestions very seriously and that it would fully focus on achieving progress in various areas, judiciary being one of the six most important areas which should be reformed. During its visit, the delegation of the European Commission met with the Minister of Justice where they defined the tasks to be fulfilled in order to positively conclude the judiciary reform, said the Prime Minister.

Deputy Cedomir Jovanovic added that the Liberal Democratic Party calls for a reformed and independent judiciary which requires the amendment of several laws.

Deputy Slobodan Samardzic asked when the Government adopted the decision on Serbia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. In the explanation he said that at the NATO summit in Lisbon Serbia was commended for the Government’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration and cooperation with NATO.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that the EU Enlargement Commissioner brought a questionnaire for Serbia which is of key importance for gaining EU candidacy status. He announced the possibility that Serbia might commence talks for EU accession before the end of the current Government’s mandate.

Serbia’s joining NATO is not a requirement for European Union membership, said Djelic adding that Serbia is active in the Partnership for Peace.

Slobodan Samardzic said that Serbia has paid every step closer to the EU dearly.

Deputy Igor Mirovic asked why “Telekom Srbija”, a company that achieved 150 million EUR profit in 2009 and employs 10 000 people was being sold. He disputed the arguments that the company would do better business after the privatisation than now when it is owned by the state. He also mentioned the opinion of the academic community, more than 130 experts from the country and abroad, that “Telekom” should not be sold, something that the unions oppose as well. Mirovic opined that the reason for its sale could not be the payment of debt because Serbia’s foreign debt in the meantime grew from 19 to 30 billion USD. In addition, the privatisation of “Telekom” is expected to result in the firing of employees and rise in the price of its services. Mirovic asked whether “Telekom” was being sold because the representative of the European Commission in Belgrade demanded it.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic responded that all public companies have fallen prey to political parties and privatisation is the only way to stop that. Opening the possibility for the operation of several landline telephone service companies exposes “Telekom” to severe competition so that it cannot remain a profitable company unless it is privatised and enabled to face the competition.

Deputy Natasa Vuckovic asked what the basis of the Government’s optimism was when it announced that it would submit the completed questionnaire to the European Commission and draft an action plan by the end of January. She also asked what the Government would do in the upcoming year to strengthen the administrative capacities needed after the commencement of negotiations on Serbia’s EU accession.

Answering her questions, Prime Minister Cvetkovic said that the questionnaire would be forwarded to the EC within the appropriate deadline and that the Government expected a positive ruling i.e. that Serbia would gain candidacy status and commence negotiations. The Government has drafted action plans and selected teams to intensely pursue them. Deputy Prime Minister Djelic added that the answers to the questions in the EC questionnaire have been in preparation for a year based on the questionnaires sent to Serbia’s neighbours, so that the work was almost complete. Djelic stressed that the European Integration Council, National Assembly, social partners, local self-government, civil society etc. took part in the preparations. He expects that Serbia will receive a positive ruling form the European Commission regarding the candidacy status by the middle of next year, and by the end of the year the membership candidacy status itself, as well as a date for the beginning of formal negotiations for EU accession.

Commenting on the response, Natasa Vuckovic mentioned that the research of some foreign media houses demonstrates that there is no clear picture of what Serbia would gain by EU membership and proposed that the Parliament and the Government improve the debate on laws and communication with the public. These activities should result in providing the public with more specific and authentic information so that they could understand what the introduction of new standards and values would mean for them.

Deputy Aleksandra Jankovic asked why the members of the patriotic association “Obraz” apprehended on 10 October were still detained without being charged with a criminal offense. She also said that TV B92 acts contrary to the Public Information Law “as it condemns all who do not wish to renounce their national identity”.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic said that she would receive a written response to her questions.

Deputy Zoran Ostojic had a question about Serbia’s joining NATO, claiming that such a decision would be in the country’s best interest and would help speed up its EU accession, increase foreign investment and the country’s development.

Deputy Prime Minister Djelic responded that the Government’s policies were primarily guided by national interests which was why the approach to integrations such as the NATO should be specific and in the country’s interest.

Deputy Nenad Popovic asked how the Government could speak about the importance of developing telecommunications while at the same time it wished to sell its key economic subject in the filed.

Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society Jasna Matic stated that now was the optimal moment for the state to seek a strategic partner for “Telekom Srbija” and ensure the competitiveness of domestic economy.

Deputy Nenad Popovic reminded everyone that 20% of “Telekom Srbija” was already owned by the Greek private company OTE which in turn was owned by Deutsche Telekom.

Deputy Dragan Stevanovic asked whether the Government was aware of the rally announced for 27 November in the municipality of Bosilgrad, organised by pro-Bulgarian right-wing organisations against the alleged seizure of western Bulgarian provinces by Serbia.

Deputy Vesna Marjanovic asked what the Government would do to improve the position of Roma and other minority groups.

Deputy Prime Minister and President of the National Roma Inclusion Council Bozidar Djelic responded that Roma integration has shown progress in the last year, particularly in the sphere of education, but due to limited material potential, Serbia needed support from European Commission funds to provide them with better care. He mentioned that Hungary, during its EU presidency in the first half of 2011, would have the adoption of a European strategy for Roma inclusion among its priorities.

Deputy Milan Lapcevic asked who had given permission on the behalf of the Government for the southern stream of the gas pipeline to enter Serbia at Zejecar and what feasibility study was used to choose that as the best route.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic said that the competent minister would provide a written answer to the question.

Deputy Milovan Radovanovic asked the Minister of Education about the case of the Aleksinac student who was not pronounced student of the year in Nis because he was a member of the Roma population.

Deputy Vlatko Ratkovic asked the Prime Minister to list the basic elements of the Government’s 2011 economic policy.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that Serbia has achieved a 1.5 to 2% positive GDP growth, but that it was still not enough for a long-tern sustainable development and improvement of the citizens’ standard. The Government will soon complete a development strategy from 2011 to 2010 based on altering the concept of development compared to the last decade i.e. making it export oriented.

Deputy Srdjan Mikovic asked when the second track of the Belgrade-Pancevo railway would be realised, the electrification of the railway to Romania would be completed and road-railway bridge Vinca-Starcevo would be built.

Answering the question Minister of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjic said that the construction of Corridor 11 which included the Belgrade-Vrsac relation would commence in a year and a half.