Tadic Criticises Serbian Ministers' Work

Serbian President Boris Tadic says some ministers in the government, mayors and independent agencies are not doing their job adequately.

Citing the report by the National Audit Institution on the final budget bill for 2008 which unveiled numerous irregularities in government spending, not only in the public procurement system, but in all government institutions, Tadic said he will issue a warning to the ministers concerned.

"Every state institution has to respect the law and the rules. Arrogance is very dangerous because of the circumstances in which Serbia is," broadcaster RTS quoted Tadic as saying.

The Serbian government will analise the audit report and determine whether there were irregularities in the work of ministries, the president added.

He did not want to mention the ministers' names, but said he will tell them in person so that they will be "given the chance to improve".

Tadic's comments have caused quite a stir amongst the country's politicians. Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that talks with government ministers mentioned in the Audit Institution's report will begin next week.

“I will talk to all ministers with whose work the National Audit Institution had objections, and citied mistakes made. Complete transparency has been introduced to the work of the government,” the daily Blic quoted Cvetkovic as saying.

Serbia's Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic agreed with Tadic. "I think that there are ministers who do not do their job well and I support what the president said," Dinkic said at a press conference.

The country's Labour Minister Rasim Ljajic went further and urged a government re-shuffle. "I did not recognise myself in the statement of President Tadic simply because I... cannot do more," Ljajic told reporters.

Minister of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjic told daily Vecernje Novosti that he is always ready for his work to be evaluated. "I am not in the Government to make a career, but here to do a difficult job,'' he said.

But Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said he does not know what is preventing the President from replacing ministers with whose work he is dissatisfied with, stressing that most of the ministers are from the president's Democratic Party.

"Every citizen has the right to make criticisms related to the work of state officials. Ministers are elected by Parliament," Dacic said at a press conference of his Socialist Party of Serbia.