Belgrade, September 12, 2001 (Beta) - Speaking for Belgrade's TV Politika, Djindjic said on Wednesday, September 12, that the Serbian government would be "easily replaced" and that he would withdraw himself if he lost a parliamentary majority, but he asserted that the present government was stable.

Djindjic stressed that it was the task of the Serbian government to preserve the DOS coalition. He also said that his was not a common government constructed following normal elections, but rather a revolution.

"I think that we need to preserve political unity until the next elections," he said.

Djindjic said that he was satisfied with the overall situation in Serbia over the past year, adding that at the very least 11% of Serbia's citizens "now live better than they had lived till October 5." He reiterated that promised foreign donations would soon arrive in Serbia.

Commenting on international donor funded programs, Djindjic said "there is a certain timing for each of these projects," and added that if Serbia can preserve the positive image it has built in the world "our work shall bear fruit by next year."

Unnecessary conflict between DS and DSS

Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic said that the conflict between the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Serbia was "unnecessary" and that the DOS coalition needed to preserve "political unity" until the next round of elections. "All the accusations they have laid are false, so it is not necessary to dwell on these issues. If they want to participate in the work of the Government the doors are wide open, and if they don't, they should define their position and behave as a democratic opposition," said Djindjic for TV Politika broadcast. According to Djindjic, it is obvious that New Serbia President Velimir Ilic would not join the Serbian government.

In the year 2003 "we shall be in a stage of full-blown development, and in 2004 our country will be a candidate for the European Union, if everything goes according to plan." According to Djindjic, Serbian industry will be hiring migrant workers in 2005, because Serbia itself will not have enough labour to meet the needs of an economy churning at full capacity.

The Serbian government, he says, has cracked down on cigarette smuggling, reducing black market trade by fully 500%.

"The greatest achievement has been made in prevention of smuggling excisable goods. Yet, we are criticized in this area, and it is my suspicion that the ones who criticize us most are those who are actually hit by these measures," said Djindjic.

Djindjic commented on the introduction of religious instruction in schools and stressed that freedom of choice "means the possibility for your children to learn what their "slava" is, and to get acquainted with religion, which for many has been a kind of sanctuary over the years."

Asked whether the introduction of religious instruction was a favour to the Serbian Orthodox Church, Djindjic replied:

"This is a favour to an institution which has preserved this nation for the last 600 years, and which was unjustly abused during 60 years of a communist regime."

He said that the Saint Sava Cathedral in Vracar was "a national symbol, the construction of which began 100 years ago" and that the continued work on the cathedral should be "a sign that the Serbian people are returning to finish up that which they began a long time ago." The construction of the church will not be financed from the budget, he said adding, "it is up to people's good will if they want to contribute to the construction of this church."