"Letter sent to Ashton over arrest of Ivanović"

Source: B92, Tanjug

BELGRADE -- First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić addressed a news conference in Belgrade on Thursday to announce future priorities of his party, the SNS.

(Tanjug)

Vučić first told reporters that he wished to inform the public that he had sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton concerning the arrest of Oliver Ivanović.
"Serbia asks of her to get involved in solving this problem, given the fact that she is to be credited for achieving the Brussels agreement, and has contributed to creating greater confidence between Serbia and the EU."

"This arrest was carried out by representatives of the EU in Kosovo, EULEX, and we seek a clear explanation, because we have a couple of questions that are difficult to find answers to, such as why Oliver Ivanović was charged with something that happened 13 years ago, and how come he - if he had committed the crime - moved freely throughout Kosovo, talked to everyone, unlike us, and then suddenly on the eve of (repeat local) elections he is arrested," Vučić said, and added:

"We think it's important for peace and stability but also for the sake of trust that he be released, and if the indictment has grounds it is certain that the man who is a well known public figure in Kosovo will not run away. It is difficult for us now to now talk with the Serbs in Kosovo, who will lose trust in those who should they guarantee their safety."

He then said he wanted to inform the public about the next moves of the government, which will regardless of who will take over the responsibility after the election, prepare "a few important things that should be done immediately."

"This is about reforms, a plan, based on which everything will be known exactly about investment projects, and all of this will be public and transparent. Furthermore, with education reforms we are introducing evaluation of teachers and schools. Reform of investment capital will bring a law to improve investments. We have a strong creative industry that we need to put to use," said Vučić.

He added that other issues included "a package of economic reforms, laws on labor, bankruptcy reform state-owned enterprises... which must be adopted by June 30, and as soon as tomorrow we will start creating working groups and a genuine social dialogue with employers and unions."

"No pressure"

Aleksandar Vučić also told the news conference that he made a decision to propose early parliamentary election "without any pressures from the international factors."

"No one can talk to me, to Serbia, in such a way, not even Russians, Americans, Germans or anyone else for that matter," Vučić said.

He confirmed that he talked about the elections with officials of the international community, but insisted that "no pressure was exerted."

“The government is making the best decisions in the interest of its people, and not of some other countries, although we respect our international partners and cherish friendly relations with them,” Vučić added.