Latest News from Serbia

All offices for alternative sanctions opened

NOVI PAZAR - Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic opened an office for alternative sanctions in Novi Pazar, the last such office planned to be opened in the seats of all 25 high courts in Serbia.

Lawyers say negotiations with ministry "collapsed"

BELGRADE -- The Bar Association of Serbia said on Monday that talks with the Ministry of Justice had collapsed, and that ministry for the outcome.

The talks lasted two weeks and seven meetings were held, the Beta agency reported.

Vucic: Private sector should be strengthened

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said that there will be no more cuts in salaries and pensions in Serbia and called on citizens to be patient for two more years when they will see the first positive results.

IMF "satisfied with Serbia's 2015 budget"

BELGRADE -- The mission of the IMF "welcomed the adoption of the Serbian budget for 2015," Resident Representative of the IMF in Belgrade Daehaeng Kim has stated.

He also noted that the IMF management would decide on the announced precautionary arrangement in the second half of February.

Dacic: Serbia to officially head OSCE as of January 15

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic stated on Monday that the first conference of the OSCE Permanent Council will be held on January 15, and added that this will mark the official beginning of the country's chairmanship in the organisation.

IMF satisfied with Serbia's 2015 budget

BELGRADE - The mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) welcomed the adoption of the Serbian budget for 2015, Resident Representative of the IMF in Belgrade Daehaeng Kim stated and noted that the IMF management would decide on the announced precautionary arrangement in the second half of February.

Nikolic, Wilhelm discuss Kosovo

BELGRADE - EU accession is a matter of survival for Serbia, but its people would rather live in poverty than have someone recognize Kosovo-Metohija in their name, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said at a meeting with German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm on Monday.

SNS wins landslide victories in Mionica, Lucani elections

MIONICA/LUCANE - The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) pulled off convincing victories in the local elections that were held in the municipalities of Mionica and Lucane, central Serbia, on Sunday.

According to a statement from the Election Commission, the SNS-led coalition won 64.71 percent of the votes.

Djuric: 40 flats, 25 houses built in southern province

BELGRADE - The funds allocated by the Serbian government were used in Kosovo and Metohija (KiM) in the past eight months to build 25 houses and four buildings with more than 40 housing units and to complete 20 projects of repair and construction of local roads, Marko Djuric, director of the Serbian government's Office for KiM, said on Monday.

"Serbians would rather be poor than without Kosovo"

BELGRADE -- Citizens of Serbia would rather accept to live in poverty "than have someone recognize Kosovo on their behalf," Tomislav Nikolic has said.

Nikolic, Kirby: Serbia's role as OSCE chair important

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby agreed on Monday that Serbia's role as OSCE chair in 2015 is very important as it is an opportunity for the country to demonstrate that it is a promising and reliable partner.

These results were announced on Monday by the Municipal Election Commission. This small town in western Serbia went to the polls on Sunday in early local elections.