Diaspora and region Serbs meet in Belgrade

Opening a meeting of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs from the
Region in Belgrade on Wednesday, Cvetković stressed his deep belief that
Serbia will get the EU candidate status and the start date for the
accession talks by the end of the year.

He pointed out the
importance of cooperation between Serbia and its diaspora, adding that
Serbs living abroad had brought billions of U.S. dollars into the
country since 2000.

The Serbs living abroad are Serbia’s
ambassadors, and the government wishes to establish an even better
economic, cultural and political cooperation with them, the prime
minister stated.

The creation of the assembly is of great significance for about four million Serbs who live around the world.

Commenting on the government’s economic policy, he noted that the main
goals were to improve employment, living standard and economic
development.

“Serbia will be the region’s leader in that area
in 2011 and 2012, which is why I wish to use this opportunity to invite
the diaspora to invest here,” he remarked.

Serbia and its
diaspora have established a partnership relation, he stated, adding that
the trend should continue in the future.

No changes to voting system

Serbia’s
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said on
Wednesday there should be system changes regarding the way Serbs living
abroad vote in Serbian elections.

The percentage of those who
vote is still negligible, which is something that has happened since the
introduction of a multi-party system, he told reporters.

There
are around 4 million Serbs living abroad, and a very small number of
them vote in Serbian elections, although they can do so in the country’s
consulates and embassies worldwide.