BELGRADE -- President Boris Tadić and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš met in Belgrade Tuesday.
Source: B92, Beta
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“That is within my jurisdiction as the president of Serbia. However, I do not know whether it is at all possible that I will still be the president when the next government is formed,” Tadić said after the meeting.
Tadić met with members of Ponoš’s extended staff, to discuss ongoing army reforms, and offered his full support for their work. He said some sectors reported unacceptable delays, while both Ponoš and Tadić agreed the ongoing political bickering had no adverse effect on the stability of the military.
General Ponoš told journalists the first phase of the Serbian Army transformation was due to be completed by the end of 2007, while at the same time urging for the expedient passing of laws necessary for the completion of reforms.
Ponoš said that although Serbia had been accepted to NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, the country to date failed either to adopt the necessary presentation documents or to open its office in Brussels.
Both the CoS and the president agreed that the Serbian Army should continue decreasing its size and discarding surplus armaments in order to form a smaller, but more operational armed force.
Ponoš said the situation in the south of Serbia was calm and described the army’s cooperation with KFOR as very good.
Tadić restated that under the UN Resolution 1244 provisions, Serbia had no right to use its army and police to intervene in Kosovo in case of an outbreak of violence, but added that the state maintained uninterrupted communication with KFOR and UNMIK.
I think the picture says it all. Looks like Tadic is not too happy and it is clear that Ponos will remain - to the EU's dissatisfaction I am sure!
That said, it is only right that the time is ripe to form the government and get on with ensuring Serbia's integrity. Equally, the obligations to the Hague need to be forth coming there is no doubt on that - all who are responsible must face justice be that by a biased political court or not - all who have acted or are responsible for actions of others must be apprehended and face justice!
Beyond that Serbia is in a fortunate position in that it's foreign policy is based on West, EU and Russia and it might also be an opportunity to forge links with Russian military since they too are in NATO PfP.
(Princip, UK, 11 April 2007 10:55)