DS, DSS: Government is stable

Both Tadic’s Democrats (DS) and Kostunica’s DSS dismissed Rasim Ljajic’s claims that the government runs the risk of collapsing. Labor and Social Policy Minister Rasim Ljajic warned on Friday that the government could fall apart, should the parties of the ruling coalition fail to agree over the date for the local and presidential votes, and over the manner in which the state would react in the event of a unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence. DS, DSS: Government is stable Nonetheless, representatives of the prime minister’s Democratic Party of Serbia and president’s Democrats were quick to react, assuring the public that the government is "stable", while an agreement on the elections would be reached "soon". “I believe that, at the moment, the cabinet is not in crisis. In my opinion elections will be called by the end of 2007 and I see no reason why they shouldn’t ,and why the Constitutional Law should not be respected,” Justice Minister and DS Vice-President Dusan Petrovic said on Friday. DS caucus chief Nada Kolundzija said that the survival of the government was in the interest of all coalition partners who had assumed "responsibility for Serbia’s stability and citizens’ interests." She confirmed that the governing coalition is united when it comes to Kosovo and its status settlement process. Commenting on the apparent lack of accord over a timeframe for the elections, Kolundzija said that the Democrats had already stated their position that the Constitutional Law must be respected, adding that "the question would be discussed and the agreement reached." Also Friday, DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenovic said the ruling parties "will hold concrete talks in the coming days and agree when to call and hold the elections." He reiterated his party’s position that the best time for the both ballots would be the spring of 2008, following the end of Kosovo’s status talks. “At this moment in time when the fate of our state is being decided, it would be best to hold the election in the spring, and now focus on the issue of key importance for our country– preserving Kosovo,” said Mladenovic.

DS, DSS: Government is stable

Nonetheless, representatives of the prime minister’s Democratic Party of Serbia and president’s Democrats were quick to react, assuring the public that the government is "stable", while an agreement on the elections would be reached "soon".

“I believe that, at the moment, the cabinet is not in crisis. In my opinion elections will be called by the end of 2007 and I see no reason why they shouldn’t ,and why the Constitutional Law should not be respected,” Justice Minister and DS Vice-President Dušan Petrović said on Friday.

DS caucus chief Nada Kolundžija said that the survival of the government was in the interest of all coalition partners who had assumed "responsibility for Serbia’s stability and citizens’ interests."

She confirmed that the governing coalition is united when it comes to Kosovo and its status settlement process.

Commenting on the apparent lack of accord over a timeframe for the elections, Kolundžija said that the Democrats had already stated their position that the Constitutional Law must be respected, adding that "the question would be discussed and the agreement reached."

Also Friday, DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenović said the ruling parties "will hold concrete talks in the coming days and agree when to call and hold the elections."

He reiterated his party’s position that the best time for the both ballots would be the spring of 2008, following the end of Kosovo’s status talks.

“At this moment in time when the fate of our state is being decided, it would be best to hold the election in the spring, and now focus on the issue of key importance for our country– preserving Kosovo,” said Mladenović.