Kosachov speaks at DSS rally, denies Russia backs SAA

Chairman of the Russian Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachov tonight addressed the last DSS-NS coalition rally of this campaign. He told the crowd gathered in Belgrade in support of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Velimir Ilic's New Serbia (NS) that it was not true Russia had supported the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Kosachov speaks at DSS rally, denies Russia backs SAA Earlier in the day, after Kosachov's meeting with Serbian President and leader of the Democrats (DS) Boris Tadic, this party issued a statement for the press which said that Kosachov "fully supported the signing of the SAA between Serbia and the EU, and Serbian efforts to become a fully-fledged EU member". In a subsequent statement for Tanjug, the senior Russian MP said he "did not wish to take sides" in the SAA controversy. The deal is supported by the DS but denounced by the DSS-NS, and Kosachov explained that his country has neutral position; but when he addressed the rally this evening, he made a clear stance on the issue: "When somebody suggests that Serbia should enter the EU on her knees, that cannot be Serbia's choice. And, if someone is trying to snatch a piece of territory from Serbia and in this way facilitate her entry into the EU, that cannot be Serbia's choice. Kosovo is Serbia – we will support Serbia!", Kosachov said. Serbia's future EU membership, Vladimir Putin-led United Russia party official said, must not be decided in Brussels, or Washington, but in Belgrade. "Today, we stand with the Serbian people, in a difficult time when attempts are made to take Kosovo away. We stand together not so as to impose some choice on Serbia – we stand together in order to can give Serbia a chance to make her own choice," Kosachov told a several-thousand strong crowd, which interrupted his speech chanting, "Russia". Kosachov also said he was in Serbia today to support the DSS on behalf of United Russia, and to relay greetings sent by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, appointed to that duty today in Moscow. He also reminded that Victory Day is celebrated tomorrow, to mark the Second World War victory over fascism, where Serbia and Russia fought as allies. Kosachov added that today, as was the case during the Second World War, the Russian and Serbian nations are together again. "The Russians completely support Serbia's fight for Kosovo," he told the rally. A letter sent to Kostunica by Putin, while he was still the Russian president, was also read at the gathering. Kosachov addresses the DSS-NS rally (Tanjug) "Kostunica will be prime minister" When he addressed the rally, Kostunica said that the coalition he leads will, "right after it wins the elections", immediately annul the SAA, "because it will never betray Serbia and Kosovo". "We will do everything to make Serbia stronger, for everyone to live better, in peace and prosperity," the DSS leader said, and added that "we cannot live without Kosovo". "If we lose Serbia and Kosovo, we can go to the EU like a ragtag caravan. We are not a ragtag caravan, we are a proud, old state, and a proud and strong nation," Kostunica told the rally. No country was ever asked to give up its territory as Serbia is asked to do today, he continued, and said it is "a lie that this way is for Serbia's good". Serbia respects all laws, will not allow the UN Charter to be violated, and will never accept humiliating signatures, Kostunica said. "At this moment, Serbia has on its side, beside Russia, 150 other countries. That proves that Serbia is on the side of justice and truth," the prime minister told the final rally of the campaign ahead of the May 11 vote. His coalition partner, NS leader and infrastructure minister in the caretaker cabinet Velimir Ilic, told the crowd gathered in the capital that Kostunica will once again be Serbian prime minister. "Serbia has nobody better," Ilic said. He referred to Tadic as "traitor", while threatening G17 Plus leader Mladjan Dinkic that he will end up in jail, "and then, work to build Serbia's highways in a chain gang". Ilic accused his former cabinet colleagues of sabotaging a number of capital projects, including the Horgos-Pozega highway, and for this, called them "vermin". "You have betrayed Kosovo and now it pains you when we call you traitors," Ilic addressed the coalition gathered around the Democrats. "Well, we have no other word for this. Javier Solana is your best friend, the one that destroyed and bombed Serbia with depleted uranium." The NS leader also said the recently signed memorandum of understanding and cooperation between Serbia and Fiat Group was "a trick" and called on Kragujevac and Sumadija residents, where the Zastava Cars plant mentioned in the deal is located, "to chase the signatories of this contract away". The rally was also attended by a number of public figures who support the DSS-NS policy, and ended without incidents. Kostunica speaks at the rally in Belgrade tonight (Beta)

Kosachov speaks at DSS rally, denies Russia backs SAA

Earlier in the day, after Kosachov's meeting with Serbian President and leader of the Democrats (DS) Boris Tadić, this party issued a statement for the press which said that Kosachov "fully supported the signing of the SAA between Serbia and the EU, and Serbian efforts to become a fully-fledged EU member".

In a subsequent statement for Tanjug, the senior Russian MP said he "did not wish to take sides" in the SAA controversy.

The deal is supported by the DS but denounced by the DSS-NS, and Kosachov explained that his country has neutral position; but when he addressed the rally this evening, he made a clear stance on the issue:

"When somebody suggests that Serbia should enter the EU on her knees, that cannot be Serbia's choice. And, if someone is trying to snatch a piece of territory from Serbia and in this way facilitate her entry into the EU, that cannot be Serbia's choice. Kosovo is Serbia – we will support Serbia!", Kosachov said.

Serbia's future EU membership, Vladimir Putin-led United Russia party official said, must not be decided in Brussels, or Washington, but in Belgrade.

"Today, we stand with the Serbian people, in a difficult time when attempts are made to take Kosovo away. We stand together not so as to impose some choice on Serbia – we stand together in order to can give Serbia a chance to make her own choice," Kosachov told a several-thousand strong crowd, which interrupted his speech chanting, "Russia".

Kosachov also said he was in Serbia today to support the DSS on behalf of United Russia, and to relay greetings sent by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, appointed to that duty today in Moscow.

He also reminded that Victory Day is celebrated tomorrow, to mark the Second World War victory over fascism, where Serbia and Russia fought as allies.

Kosachov added that today, as was the case during the Second World War, the Russian and Serbian nations are together again.

"The Russians completely support Serbia's fight for Kosovo," he told the rally.

A letter sent to Koštunica by Putin, while he was still the Russian president, was also read at the gathering.

"Koštunica will be prime minister"

When he addressed the rally, Koštunica said that the coalition he leads will, "right after it wins the elections", immediately annul the SAA, "because it will never betray Serbia and Kosovo".

"We will do everything to make Serbia stronger, for everyone to live better, in peace and prosperity," the DSS leader said, and added that "we cannot live without Kosovo".

"If we lose Serbia and Kosovo, we can go to the EU like a ragtag caravan. We are not a ragtag caravan, we are a proud, old state, and a proud and strong nation," Koštunica told the rally.

No country was ever asked to give up its territory as Serbia is asked to do today, he continued, and said it is "a lie that this way is for Serbia's good".

Serbia respects all laws, will not allow the UN Charter to be violated, and will never accept humiliating signatures, Koštunica said.

"At this moment, Serbia has on its side, beside Russia, 150 other countries. That proves that Serbia is on the side of justice and truth," the prime minister told the final rally of the campaign ahead of the May 11 vote.

His coalition partner, NS leader and infrastructure minister in the caretaker cabinet Velimir Ilić, told the crowd gathered in the capital that Koštunica will once again be Serbian prime minister.

"Serbia has nobody better," Ilić said.

He referred to Tadić as "traitor", while threatening G17 Plus leader Mlađan Dinkić that he will end up in jail, "and then, work to build Serbia's highways in a chain gang".

Ilić accused his former cabinet colleagues of sabotaging a number of capital projects, including the Horgoš-Požega highway, and for this, called them "vermin".

"You have betrayed Kosovo and now it pains you when we call you traitors," Ilić addressed the coalition gathered around the Democrats.

"Well, we have no other word for this. Javier Solana is your best friend, the one that destroyed and bombed Serbia with depleted uranium."

The NS leader also said the recently signed memorandum of understanding and cooperation between Serbia and Fiat Group was "a trick" and called on Kragujevac and Šumadija residents, where the Zastava Cars plant mentioned in the deal is located, "to chase the signatories of this contract away".

The rally was also attended by a number of public figures who support the DSS-NS policy, and ended without incidents.