"Fate of gov't could depend on Kosovo"

Rasim Ljajic says a political crisis is likely if the international community "resorts to unilateral measures". “I am not sure how it would affect the government,” the minister of labor, employment and social policy warned Saturday, speaking about the ongoing crisis over the settlement of Kosovo's future status. "Fate of gov't could depend on Kosovo" According to him, the most crucial point at the moment is to maintain a consensus among all members of the ruling coalition regarding Serbia’s position in the Kosovo negotiations. “Nonetheless, one should be aware of the fact that everything actually depends on decisions reached in Washington and Brussels,” Ljajic said, adding that during the crises in former Yugoslavia, the international community made drastic political mistakes that “had repercussions for the future of the entire region.” “Whatever happens, Serbia must react in a well-balanced and thought-through manner. We cannot afford any haste and emotional moves that could have far-reaching consequences for the future of our state.” He added that none of the officials from Belgrade, Pristina and Brussels in fact considered partitioning Kosovo as a solution. Ljajic, who is also the chairman of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague, noted that Serbia could face major problems if it failed to make considerable progress towards achieving full cooperation with the international court. “There are teams working on meeting the Hague demands day in and day out. It is for the best if we do not talk about it too much and work more than we did before,” he said. Rasim Ljajic (FoNet, archive) Democrats: Anti-NATO rhetoric damaging A Democratic Party (DS) official says abuse of the Kosovo issue for party gains is very detrimental to Serbia’s interests. “I believe that we should do away with the rhetoric we barely managed to survive not so long ago, which put us on the collision course with the rest of the world,” DS caucus chief Nada Kolundzija said Saturday. Referring to recent statements given by Prime Minister Kostunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) officials about alleged intentions of NATO to turn Kosovo into its own state, she noted that “such a language is getting Serbia into an argument with the world during the new round of Kosovo talks.” “We should direct all our efforts towards winning the support of as many influential states as we can when it comes to Kosovo’s future status settlement,” Kolundzija said. “Ongoing negotiations may as well be our last chance to, by defending our state interest, arrive at a solution which will secure peaceful future and European prospects not only for Serbia, but for the entire region, and we should be fully aware of this.” According to Kolundzija, attempts by certain politicians to shore up voters’ support by employing "somewhat belligerent rhetoric " was doing Serbia no favors. The statement Saturday was the first official reaction from President Boris Tadic's party to their coalition partners' ongoing war of words against NATO.

"Fate of gov't could depend on Kosovo"

According to him, the most crucial point at the moment is to maintain a consensus among all members of the ruling coalition regarding Serbia’s position in the Kosovo negotiations.

“Nonetheless, one should be aware of the fact that everything actually depends on decisions reached in Washington and Brussels,” Ljajić said, adding that during the crises in former Yugoslavia, the international community made drastic political mistakes that “had repercussions for the future of the entire region.”

“Whatever happens, Serbia must react in a well-balanced and thought-through manner. We cannot afford any haste and emotional moves that could have far-reaching consequences for the future of our state.”

He added that none of the officials from Belgrade, Priština and Brussels in fact considered partitioning Kosovo as a solution.

Ljajić, who is also the chairman of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague, noted that Serbia could face major problems if it failed to make considerable progress towards achieving full cooperation with the international court.

“There are teams working on meeting the Hague demands day in and day out. It is for the best if we do not talk about it too much and work more than we did before,” he said.

Democrats: Anti-NATO rhetoric damaging

A Democratic Party (DS) official says abuse of the Kosovo issue for party gains is very detrimental to Serbia’s interests.

“I believe that we should do away with the rhetoric we barely managed to survive not so long ago, which put us on the collision course with the rest of the world,” DS caucus chief Nada Kolundžija said Saturday.

Referring to recent statements given by Prime Minister Koštunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) officials about alleged intentions of NATO to turn Kosovo into its own state, she noted that “such a language is getting Serbia into an argument with the world during the new round of Kosovo talks.”

“We should direct all our efforts towards winning the support of as many influential states as we can when it comes to Kosovo’s future status settlement,” Kolundžija said.

“Ongoing negotiations may as well be our last chance to, by defending our state interest, arrive at a solution which will secure peaceful future and European prospects not only for Serbia, but for the entire region, and we should be fully aware of this.”

According to Kolundžija, attempts by certain politicians to shore up voters’ support by employing "somewhat belligerent rhetoric " was doing Serbia no favors.

The statement Saturday was the first official reaction from President Boris Tadić's party to their coalition partners' ongoing war of words against NATO.