Gov't takes care of position of Serbs in region

STARA PAZOVA - The Serbian government is working towards improving the position of the Serb community in all countries of the Western Balkans as part of efforts to improve Serbia's position in the international community, Minister of Justice Nikola Selakovic said at a meeting of representatives of the Serb communities in the region Friday.

During the meeting in Stara Pazova near Belgrade, Selakovic said that the Serbian government was pursuing a policy of reconciliation and extended hand of friendship and wanted to resolve all issues through dialogue and discussion.

Serbia is a pillar of regional stability, the minister said.

The Serbian government also gives an example to others of how to respect the members of minority communities, he said.

We just want the Serbs in these countries to be given no less respect that members of minority communities are given in Serbia, the justice minister said, adding that the level of protection of human and minority rights in Serbia was neither ideal nor brilliant, but it could set an example to others in many respects.

Selakovic said that it was no coincidence that the Serbs from the region had been brought together in Stara Pazova, a municipality that behaved in a socially, economically, and also nationally responsible way.

Stara Pazova is a good example for many good things in Serbia, like economic development and employment, and coexistence of the majority and minority communities, said Selakovic.

Zoran Babic, head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party's parliamentary group, said that Serbia was sincerely committed to developing the best possible relations with its neighbors, in the hope that good results there would also help create better conditions for the...