Ivan Lalic: We are not going to be ikebana
'There is a series of open questions concerning corruption fiercely shaking our public scene these days. We think this would not have happened had the Government not delayed passing of law on conflict of public and private interest. At the meeting with the Prime Minister we intend to clarify if the Government is sincerely determined to go to the very end in the fight against corruption', Ivan Lalic, vice president of the Council for fight against corruption says for 'Blic'.
'We have no intention to be just an ikebana for the Government. My impression is that the Government is underestimating the role and significance, but also enormous potential of the Council. Two years have passed and I still have not managed to understand what actually the Government is expected from the Council. If, however, the rules of the games are determined, then there will be no collective resignation', Lalic says.
'Whether the Prime Minister is going to dismiss Janjusevic and Kolesar, that is for me a political decision in the first place, because there is still no law on conflict of interest. There are, however, certain things, including assassination of Zoran Djindjic, supporting the fact that Janjusevic cannot remain a security advisor. Nevertheless, I am optimistic about agreement with the Government', Lalic concludes.
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July 30, 2003 - 'Meeting with Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic has not been agreed yet, but we expect it to be in the following ten days or so. After that meeting we shall decide if we shall collectively resign or not. Also we intend to inform public opinion about everything supported by the documents in our possession', Verica Barac, president of Council for fight against corruption says for 'Blic'.
Q: What is it that you expect from the Premier so as not to resign?
A: 'We expect full cooperation from the Government with the Council. We also expect passing of anti-corruption laws, engagement of impartial expert team regarding distribution of frequencies, passing of law on conflict between public and private interest and law on availability of information'.
Q: You insisted persistently on passing of law on conflict of interest and law on availability of information and the Government refused to do so even more persistently. Why?
A: 'I don't know. That is why we want meeting with the Prime Minister to see how sincere Government's intentions are when fight against corruption is concerned'.
Q: Does this mean that the Government and Prime Minister are ignoring you?
A: 'We have never said that. Three months ago we had meeting with Zivkovic and agreed that cooperation between the Council and Government was effected via Premier's cabinet. Zivkovic expressed readiness to come to every session of the Council and he did come accompanied be the relevant ministers. We got all documentation we requested. After that we have not invited him because he was not here. However, something has been done and something has not'.
Q: How serious has the Government taken the Council and what is the volume of your influence?
A: 'That is written in the Government's decision according to which this Council was formed. We are an advisory body and have no power at all. We should help the Government to fight against corruption by our measures and advices'.
Q: Will you advise the Prime Minister to dismiss Janjusevic and Kolesar because of obvious conflict of interest?
A: 'That is a question to be asked after the meeting. We still don't have necessary information to see what this is all about. One of the reasons for our dissatisfaction is that even after a year and a half we still have not got details about members of the Government and people appointed to work in the Government. We don't know who of Government's members are also members in various management boards. It is important in order to be able to decide whether there is a conflict of interest or not'.
Q: Still, do you think that they should be dismissed or should they resign?
A: 'I expected them not to be where they are. I can't believe that a man having two or three companies abroad is member of a management board and has a company at home'.
Q: Do you think there are reasonable grounds that a man like Janjusevic, who worked as a driver, is kept in the position of Prime Minister's advisor for security in spite the fact that the premier has been killed, even if not involved in money laundry?
A: 'These are questions we are to consider after meeting with the Prime Minister. However, I have to say that this is not something that I know and that the Council should deal with. Conflict of interest is crucial for us because it leads to corruption'.
Q: Has anybody from the Government offered to you documentation on Janjusevic, Kolesar or Serbian Police Minister Dusan Mihajlovic who seems failed to react to document sent by Hungarian Police?
A: 'No, that is why we shall request the documents from Zivkovic'.
Q: Isn't there in the Government nobody else except the prime Minister who could give the necessary documents to the Council?
A: 'It has been agreed that the cooperation would go via Premier's cabinet and he has not been in the country'.
Q: Do you have any information that anybody of the competent bodies has contacted international police requesting more detailed information?
A: 'That is on the competent state bodies to check. If the Council is to debate on that we shall request appropriate document and reports to check'.
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