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INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK |
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By Milen Vesovic Interview with Bojan Kostres, Deputy President of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina
“Today’s SVM turned to nationalism!”
After the adoption of the Statute of Vojvodina and of the transfer of competencies, do you expect any visible changes in Vojvodina? - The Law on Jurisdiction and the Statute that will allow us transfer the 153 competencies in 20 areas of life to regional government, will certainly make a greater impact of the Provincial Authorities on quality of life and standard of living of Citizens of Vojvodina. However, until it is returned to the property of Vojvodina and the source of Vojvodina’s income determined, which is for now the task of the Republican Parliament and the Republican Government, Vojvodina and its functioning will be dependent on the Republic's Authorities. At this moment this is the problem that creates a level of concern and therefore the League has to insist as soon as possible on making these Laws and I hope they will be presented in the procedure in the first quarter of this year. Do you think that the laws on revenues of Vojvodina and the transfer of property will soon come on the Agenda of the Assembly of Serbia, or we would have to wait for these laws as long as we were waiting for the Statute? - President of the LSV, Mr. Canak spoke with Prime Minister Cvetkovic prior to the adoption of the Statute and of the competencies and then we got a solid promise that in the first quarter of this year that Laws will be included in the procedure. However, if the Government does not do its job and if what was agreed on is not realized, the LSV will automatically come with legal proposals and legislative proposals, and you will find those proposals in the LSV procedure. Time will show whether they will be accepted by the Parliamentary Majority or whether our Coalition Partners will support us, but I am optimistic at the moment and I believe that everything will be done in the best way as soon as possible. Where LSV see opportunities for further improving the position of Vojvodina within Serbia? In which sectors? - In accordance with the current Constitution, it is difficult to change the position of Vojvodina. The Statute Law on Jurisdictions and the two laws to be passed will maximize the autonomy of Vojvodina, in accordance with the Constitution. This leads to the conclusion that we need to launch an initiative to amend the Constitution to guarantee the legislative, executive, judicial powers, revenues and assets of Vojvodina. This is why it is important to do the job that awaits us in the period that we are facing. The job which is even more important, if not directly related to Vojvodina, but it will largely be a reflection of the situation in Vojvodina, is a process of decentralization and regionalization of Serbia. If Serbia applies the combined models of Spanish and Italian model ideas of substantial decentralization of regionalization are applied, that will greatly contribute to strengthening the autonomy of Vojvodina. Under what circumstances would your Party cease to support the Government led by the Democratic Party - Boris Tadic? - In case they stop the European processes, in case they negate the interests and needs of Vojvodina, in case they try to stop the denationalization of Serbia and building a strong civil society in Serbia. Why is there a conflict between you and your party's long-time coalition partner on various levels the Alliance of Vojvodina’s Hungarians (SVM)? Did a conflict really arise because of the budget, or there is some other background to this conflict? - I would not call it a conflict. The Alliance of Vojvodina’s Hungarians a few years ago had a change of leadership that was more likely right winged and nationalistic, than the center that was for the building of multi-nationalism, multi-religious and multi-ethnic Vojvodina. The previous SVM with which the League had a close relationship was the Alliance that in 90 percent of situations had the same opinion as the LSV. That cannot be said about the new SVM and its new leadership. This is one side of the story. On the other hand, I note that the LSV is not willing to blackmail the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the sake of cheap political points, nor are we willing to make any problems to the Republican Government at this time when Serbia's candidacy for EU is submitted and when it crashed the Schengen “wall”. Of course, we are not yet happy with Vojvodina’s position, but we will resolve the issue of these two Laws as we have resolved the issue of the Statute.
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► FRONT PAGE ► POLITICS ► ECONOMY ► ARTS & CULTURE ► INTERVIEW ► SERBIAN KITCHEN ► TRAVEL TO SERBIA ► SOCIETY ► INVEST IN SERBIA ► ENTERTAINMENT ► SPORTS ► CLASSIFIEDS |
