"Leader of Socialists not in Moscow to discuss new govt."

SPS Vice-President Dusan Bajatovic says that his party's ongoing negotiations with the Democrats (DS) had not touched on personnel solutions. Instead, the two parties are talking about the policy of a new government they are attempting to put together, Bajatovic told B92 in Belgrade on Wednesday. "Leader of Socialists not in Moscow to discuss new govt." It remains uncertain whether the Liberal-Democrats (LDP) will participate in the next cabinet, he also stated. "Whoever forms a government will have to make unpopular moves. We cannot have a government where one minister will talk about the RS (the Serb Republic) as a genocidal creation, or about Kosovo as independent," noted Bajatovic, and added that "all the LDP has to do if they wish to join is to respect the Constitution". According to him, it is up to Boris Tadic's Democrats "to find a third partner and say what we will do". Bajatovic believes that a government must be put together as soon as possible, but that it must also be stable, adding that his party was looking for "a realistic participation" in a cabinet that has "clear goals". The SPS was primarily interested economic and social programs of a future cabinet, he explained. Asked about the topics of meetings held in Russia by SPS leader Ivica Dacic, Bajatovic stated: "Dacic is now in Moscow. I don't know what they will talk about there, but it certainly won't be about Serbia's new government. Many of our problems do not depend on Moscow or Washington, but on how we will arrange our society." While stating that the Socialists were not the party "holding up" the formation of a government, Bajatovic also noted that the party was "yet to receive answers to some questions": "For example - what should we do about privatizations. We believe that some companies were privatized badly. Also, we have demonstrated in some cases, such as that of Azotara, that a bad privatization can be turned around." Dusan Bajatovic (Tanjug, file) B92

"Leader of Socialists not in Moscow to discuss new govt."

It remains uncertain whether the Liberal-Democrats (LDP) will participate in the next cabinet, he also stated.

"Whoever forms a government will have to make unpopular moves. We cannot have a government where one minister will talk about the RS (the Serb Republic) as a genocidal creation, or about Kosovo as independent," noted Bajatović, and added that "all the LDP has to do if they wish to join is to respect the Constitution".

According to him, it is up to Boris Tadić's Democrats "to find a third partner and say what we will do".

Bajatović believes that a government must be put together as soon as possible, but that it must also be stable, adding that his party was looking for "a realistic participation" in a cabinet that has "clear goals".

The SPS was primarily interested economic and social programs of a future cabinet, he explained.

Asked about the topics of meetings held in Russia by SPS leader Ivica Dačić, Bajatović stated:

"Dačić is now in Moscow. I don't know what they will talk about there, but it certainly won't be about Serbia's new government. Many of our problems do not depend on Moscow or Washington, but on how we will arrange our society."

While stating that the Socialists were not the party "holding up" the formation of a government, Bajatović also noted that the party was "yet to receive answers to some questions":

"For example - what should we do about privatizations. We believe that some companies were privatized badly. Also, we have demonstrated in some cases, such as that of Azotara, that a bad privatization can be turned around."