SNS-SVM coalition agreement signed

BELGRADE - Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader and future Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and leader of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) Istvan Pastor signed an agreement on participation in the new Serbian government on Sunday.

The agreement signed at the SNS headquarters defines the government priorities and program priorities of the two parties, and envisages five state secretaries for the SVM.

The SVM will hold state secretary positions at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Policy, Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, and Ministry of Health.

After the signing of the coalition agreement, SNS Vice-President Igor Mirovic told reporters that the document defines matters of interest for the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, priorities in the protection of minority rights and large-scale infrastructure projects, as well as matters concerning historical topics that have burdened the relations between Serbs and Hungarians.

"The priorities refer to the European Union, regional policies, IPA funds and agricultural policy issues," said Mirovic.

Joint participation in the government offers an opportunity for the two parties to develop their relations, as well as to resolve important issues affecting the society, he emphasized.

Pastor pointed out that better relations can be built “from the present perspective”, by “leaving the past in the past”.

"I am proud of the SVM stepping out of its own shadow, and setting an example for others," said Pastor, adding that the signed agreement is one that he can stand firmly behind.

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