Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said on Monday, while presenting the programme of the reshuffled government to the parliament, that the objectives of the executive authority will remain the same.

The priorities of the Serbian government, Cvetkovic said, will be complete commitment to Serbia's speediest possible EU accession, preservation of Kosovo and Metohija as part of the Republic of Serbia, development of Serbia's economy and improvement of the people's standard of living, building of a socially responsible society and solidarity among people, uncompromised fight against crime and corruption, and full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal.

The Serbian parliament opened a sitting on Monday at which its MPs will discuss the election of new members of the country's government.

The election of new members of the government will complete its reshuffle, after which it will have 17 ministries and 21 members.

The candidates will be presented to the MPs by Prime Minister Cvetkovic, and the sitting is also being attended by the ministerial candidates themselves as well as by the members of the cabinet in the old composition.

Prior to the sitting, the Serbian parliament confirmed resignations of a total of 14 ministers.

The Serbian parliament confirmed resignations of a total of 14 ministers who were left without an office as their relevant ministries had been abolished after the reshuffle or have been given an appointment in a new ministry.

The MPs confirmed the resignations of Diana Dragutinovic, Sasa Dragin, Petar Skundric, Milutin Mrkonjic, Milan Markovic and Slobodan Milosavljevic.

The resignations of Bozidar Djelic, Zarko Obradovic, Jasna Matic, Oliver Dulic, Nebojsa Bradic, Bogoljub Sijakovic, Srdjan Sreckovic and Svetozar Ciplic were also confirmed.

A new sitting was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Monday, at which the MPs are to consider and elect candidates for new prime minister's cabinet, by which the reshuffle of the government that will now have 17 ministries and 21 members will be completed.

I will not tolerate idleness and arrogance within government

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said Monday he would not tolerate idleness and arrogance within the government, or anything else that is not part of the official policy.

"From now on, all government members will have to be even more responsible in their work, more modest in their behaviour, more hardworking in pursuit of results and more aware of the people's needs, because the people are the reason they are in office. The citizens' interest and solutions to their problems will be the top priority for every member of the government, even more so than they have been so far," Cvetkovic stated, presenting the new government programme to the parliament.

According to him, the government is going to use the rest of its term to implement measures that will permanently increase employment and living standard, but it will also use short-term measures to improve life for the poor, as well as for the rest of the population.

"This government has shown that it has the courage to make tough decision in the interest of the Serbian people, and it will continue to do so in the future.It is the only way to guarantee long-term prosperity for our country and the generations that will come after us, but also a better life for all our people right here and right now," Cvetkovic stressed.

The prime minister believes the new government will have the necessary knowledge, energy and responsibility to complete the great task ahead.