DSS opposes NATO membership

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) will seek to officially define its opposition to Serbia joining NATO, reports suggest. The party presidency has adopted a program proposal supporting the country's Partnership for Peace (PfP) membership, but rejecting that in NATO itself. DSS opposes NATO membership Vecernje Novosti daily reported today that Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's party adopted the proposal Monday evening, declaring it will not support Serbia's bid to join the North-Atlantic Alliance. The party, currently forming a ruling coalition with the Democratic Party (DS) and G17 Plus, whose leaders are vocal advocates of Serbia's European and Atlantic integration, said any decision to join NATO must first be tested in a referendum. The DSS presidency has sent its proposal to the main board, scheduled to meet on September 15, while the party general assembly will have the last word on the document as it convenes on October 14. Yesterday, the leader of the Democrats and Serbian president, Boris Tadic, called on all political factors to abandon partisan approach to politics and ensure unity in what he described as "a difficult and delicate" phase of the ongoing Kosovo negotiations. Analysts fear that the DS-DSS-G17 Plus unity may come under severe strain over the differences the coalition members display in relation to the strategic course Serbia should take, as it seeks to define its place in the region and beyond. Session of the DSS main board (FoNet, archive) Analyst: Gov't may not survive unfavorable Kosovo solution Political analyst Djordje Vukadinovic said Tuesday that the opposing standpoints of the ruling parties as regards Serbia’s NATO prospects have not as yet threatened to shake the governing coalition. However, in his opinion, the government may not survive, should a unilateral proclamation and recognition of Kosovo independence take place. Vukadinovic reiterated that the two largest parties had had their differences in the past as to NATO’s role in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, and that their positions also clashed with respect to the Atlantic integration process. However, none of this had ever stood in the way of forming a government, according to Vukadinovic. “In my opinion, in case of a unilateral proclamation and recognition of Kosovo’s independence, the cabinet’s chances of survival will be slim." "Even though both the DS and DSS reject the idea of independence, their positions differ as to what should be done in case of an unfavorable Kosovo outcome,” Vukadinovic concluded.

DSS opposes NATO membership

Večernje Novosti daily reported today that Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica's party adopted the proposal Monday evening, declaring it will not support Serbia's bid to join the North-Atlantic Alliance.

The party, currently forming a ruling coalition with the Democratic Party (DS) and G17 Plus, whose leaders are vocal advocates of Serbia's European and Atlantic integration, said any decision to join NATO must first be tested in a referendum.

The DSS presidency has sent its proposal to the main board, scheduled to meet on September 15, while the party general assembly will have the last word on the document as it convenes on October 14.

Yesterday, the leader of the Democrats and Serbian president, Boris Tadić, called on all political factors to abandon partisan approach to politics and ensure unity in what he described as "a difficult and delicate" phase of the ongoing Kosovo negotiations.

Analysts fear that the DS-DSS-G17 Plus unity may come under severe strain over the differences the coalition members display in relation to the strategic course Serbia should take, as it seeks to define its place in the region and beyond.

Analyst: Gov't may not survive unfavorable Kosovo solution

Political analyst Đorđe Vukadinović said Tuesday that the opposing standpoints of the ruling parties as regards Serbia’s NATO prospects have not as yet threatened to shake the governing coalition.

However, in his opinion, the government may not survive, should a unilateral proclamation and recognition of Kosovo independence take place.

Vukadinović reiterated that the two largest parties had had their differences in the past as to NATO’s role in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, and that their positions also clashed with respect to the Atlantic integration process.

However, none of this had ever stood in the way of forming a government, according to Vukadinović.

“In my opinion, in case of a unilateral proclamation and recognition of Kosovo’s independence, the cabinet’s chances of survival will be slim."

"Even though both the DS and DSS reject the idea of independence, their positions differ as to what should be done in case of an unfavorable Kosovo outcome,” Vukadinović concluded.