Speakers: Dejan Mihajlov, head of the DSS caucus in the Serbian Parliament Dusan Prorokovic, deputy president of the DSS Executive Board Dejan Mihajlov: As the talks on the inauguration of a new federal cabinet are about to come to an end, the Democratic Party of Serbia will demand a Serbian cabinet reshuffle. The demand is more than justified, because the problems the government inherited have not been resolved, and its members proved to be rather inefficient in effecting systemic changes. If the situation holds on, we could encounter social discontent, strained relations between local self-government and the central authority and a judiciary closed to reforms. The pledged root-and-branch changes are late, while laws on local self-rule and judiciary are yet to be sent to parliament for action. The process of reform must not be questioned in any way, which is one of the reasons for our demand. The Law on Wage Categories has already pushed the government into a compromise. The process of changes is neither easy nor fast, but it is nevertheless a necessity, as well as good social programmes. We do not want cosmetic changes, but rather a profound insight into the work of the government and all ministries, beginning with our own. We welcome the People's Party's entry into the government. The last dilemma over a new federal finance minister is now resolved. Mr. J. Rankovic has accepted the post. Dusan Prorokovic: When the consultations on the establishment of a new federal government ended, resulting in a new cabinet bound to be installed as soon as this week, it became clear that the existing tensions have been reduced and that a new step was taken towards the preservation of the federal state. The Democratic Party of Serbia strongly believes that the alliance of Serbia and Montenegro is both a strategic interest and a long-term project of utmost importance. Individual statements in Serbia advocating a referendum do a disservice to the Serbian people and offer latent support to opponents of the joint state. Only those who do not think about consequences can suggest such a thing. The consequences of the establishment of two independent states on the Yugoslav soil can be disastrous not only for Serbia and Montenegro, but also the Balkan region at large. It would affect stability, both political and monetary, and even the security situation in Montenegro, which would have adverse effects on its neighbours, Serbia in particular. There is no doubt that such a development would curb the reform process and discourage foreign investors. Talking about possible separation of Belgrade and Podgorica, we have to take into account the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244. Montenegro's secession would make the Kosovo issue even more problematic and complicate our efforts to keep Kosovo within Serbia. The open question of whether the Kosovo Serbs would participate in the November vote in the province and the election itself have already made our initiatives complicated enough. Information Service of the Democratic Party of Serbia ----------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.dss.org.yu Democratic party of Serbia, Brace Jugovica 2a, 11000 Beograd, Jugoslavija Tel: (381 11) 182 535; 183 525; 638 013; 328 2886 Fax: (381 11) 328 1793 Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/