SNS leader: State has done nothing for Kosovo Serbs

Opposition Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic believes that the government has done nothing for the Serbs in northern Kosovo. He said Thursday the Serbian parliament should again debate the situation in the southern Serbian province. SNS leader: State has done nothing for Kosovo Serbs "The only conversation regarding Kosovo the government has had with anyone in Serbia happened at a session of the Serbian parliament, but we were not told what they would do. We were told they would do everything that can be done," Nikolic stressed. "What has the government done for the Serbs in northern Kosovo? Nothing. They sent a truck with food and flour - that is what they did for them," the SNS leader told B92. In his opinion, the government should say what it will do for the people in that part of Serbia, and the parliament should stand behind it. Nikolic reiterated that nobody from the EU had explicitly told him recognition of Kosovo's independence was a condition of Serbia's European integration, adding that such a demand would be a signal to convene the parliament, which would decide how to proceed. "Economically and socially, Serbia cannot survive outside of the EU, but it also cannot survive without Kosovo," he explained. The SNS leader said he would visit Kosovo in the end of August, noting it was difficult to judge the actions of the people there from Belgrade, before some time was spent with them. "There are no more party divisions there, the people are committed to staying in Kosovo and want to know what Serbia intends to do with them and how far it is willing to go to defend them," Nikolic said. Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug, file)

SNS leader: State has done nothing for Kosovo Serbs

"The only conversation regarding Kosovo the government has had with anyone in Serbia happened at a session of the Serbian parliament, but we were not told what they would do. We were told they would do everything that can be done," Nikolić stressed.

"What has the government done for the Serbs in northern Kosovo? Nothing. They sent a truck with food and flour - that is what they did for them," the SNS leader told B92.

In his opinion, the government should say what it will do for the people in that part of Serbia, and the parliament should stand behind it.

Nikolić reiterated that nobody from the EU had explicitly told him recognition of Kosovo's independence was a condition of Serbia's European integration, adding that such a demand would be a signal to convene the parliament, which would decide how to proceed.

"Economically and socially, Serbia cannot survive outside of the EU, but it also cannot survive without Kosovo," he explained.

The SNS leader said he would visit Kosovo in the end of August, noting it was difficult to judge the actions of the people there from Belgrade, before some time was spent with them.

"There are no more party divisions there, the people are committed to staying in Kosovo and want to know what Serbia intends to do with them and how far it is willing to go to defend them," Nikolić said.