Parties row over Russian deal ratification

The leading parties continue to argue over the ratification date for the strategic energy agreement with Russia. After a meeting with Russia's Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu in Belgrade Friday, President Boris Tadic, DS, said they reached an understanding that the agreement would be ratified in the new parliament, after the May 11 elections. Parties row over Russian deal ratification "This will be the parliament's decision right after it convenes, so that the agreement will be ratified in several weeks' time," Tadic said Saturday, and added the existing parliament has a "technical character", which could be used in the future to contest the energy deal. But Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) says that a protocol has been signed with Shoigu on the same day for the ratification to take place before the ballot, and adds this issue will be discussed by the cabinet next Thursday. Kostunica said today he expects the caretaker government to agree and send the document to the parliament. "It is important, in the interest of Serbia and in the interest of the citizens, to rectify the previous damaging decision not to confirm this important agreement," he told Tanjug. The prime minister added it would be irresponsible for the government to Thursday once again put "party and coalition" interest above the obvious interest of Serbia, and vote against sending the deal for ratification. "That would constitute for a deliberate destruction and inflicting of direct damage to Serbia," he warned. If the cabinet were to agree to send the document to parliament, the DSS can count on a majority forged with the support from the Radicals, SRS. Deputy SRS leader Tomislav Nikolic said the dissolved parliament has the constitutional right to undertake urgent sessions in order to address issues that cannot be postponed. Nikolic also said he is in favor of scheduling a parliament session to discuss the energy agreement, the ratification of which he sees as urgent. But the DS says calling the session, without the speaker's agreement, would be tantamount to a "coup". The speaker, Oliver Dulic, comes from the DS ranks. "A fear that they will not have the majority in parliament after May 11 lies behind the idea to urgently and illegally schedule a session now," a party statement from the DS read. Mladjan Dinkic's G17 Plus agree with this. If the positions of the parties making up the caretaker government remain unchanged by Thursday, the cabinet will not send the energy deal for ratification. But in the parliament, the DSS-NS coalition, and the SRS, have the majority to ratify the agreement before May 11.

Parties row over Russian deal ratification

"This will be the parliament's decision right after it convenes, so that the agreement will be ratified in several weeks' time," Tadić said Saturday, and added the existing parliament has a "technical character", which could be used in the future to contest the energy deal.

But Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) says that a protocol has been signed with Shoigu on the same day for the ratification to take place before the ballot, and adds this issue will be discussed by the cabinet next Thursday.

Koštunica said today he expects the caretaker government to agree and send the document to the parliament.

"It is important, in the interest of Serbia and in the interest of the citizens, to rectify the previous damaging decision not to confirm this important agreement," he told Tanjug.

The prime minister added it would be irresponsible for the government to Thursday once again put "party and coalition" interest above the obvious interest of Serbia, and vote against sending the deal for ratification.

"That would constitute for a deliberate destruction and inflicting of direct damage to Serbia," he warned.

If the cabinet were to agree to send the document to parliament, the DSS can count on a majority forged with the support from the Radicals, SRS.

Deputy SRS leader Tomislav Nikolić said the dissolved parliament has the constitutional right to undertake urgent sessions in order to address issues that cannot be postponed.

Nikolić also said he is in favor of scheduling a parliament session to discuss the energy agreement, the ratification of which he sees as urgent.

But the DS says calling the session, without the speaker's agreement, would be tantamount to a "coup". The speaker, Oliver Dulić, comes from the DS ranks.

"A fear that they will not have the majority in parliament after May 11 lies behind the idea to urgently and illegally schedule a session now," a party statement from the DS read. Mlađan Dinkić's G17 Plus agree with this.

If the positions of the parties making up the caretaker government remain unchanged by Thursday, the cabinet will not send the energy deal for ratification.

But in the parliament, the DSS-NS coalition, and the SRS, have the majority to ratify the agreement before May 11.