DSS leader: National unity condition for survival

BELGRADE Vojislav Kostunica says the condition for Serbia's survival is to re-establish national unity in protecting its legitimate interests and constitutional order. The leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) added that this was "a huge responsibility of the current government." DSS leader: National unity condition for survival Kostunica said in an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti that the interests of Serbia and the EU in terms of the Kosovo and Metohija issue are directly opposed, adding that each agreement with the EU would mean that Serbia has capitulated. When asked whether it is realistic that the country's economic development will be threatened if the EU integration process gets hindered by the failure of the dialogue with Pristina, Kostunica said that the greatest pressure comes from the belief that Serbia would have a huge benefit from the EU integration process, although it is clear that a number of EU member states, such as Greece and Spain, are facing " a terrible crisis." “We should develop the best possible economic cooperation with every EU country, but we should not shackle ourselves by wishing to become an EU member obviously to our own detriment. Any foreign company would come to Serbia if it can make profit, but none which is already here would go away because we have decided to reject the ultimatum to give Kosovo in,” the former Yugoslav president and Serbian prime minister said. Kostunica believes that Serbia would have to insist on putting the talks on Kosovo under the UN Security Council mandate. He noted that the UNSC discusses Kosovo every three months, and that the UNSC mandate is not over, while Resolution 1244 is still in force. “The EU mandate for the talks on Kosovo is short-term and when the possibilities for such talks are exhausted, the dialogue could only continue under the UNSC mandate,” the DSS leader said. The Serbian government decided on Monday to seek an urgent resumption of the EU-mediated dialogue with Pristina. Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that the government cannot accept the principles verbally presented to its negotiating team, because they do not guarantee safety, survival and human rights protection to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. When asked whether he expects early parliamentary elections in the coming months, Kostunica said that it is not good for the government to fall because it does not accept foreign dictatorship. "After that, we should confer in a peaceful atmosphere on when to call the elections," Kostunica said. He said that the autonomous province of Vojvodina needs elections at which the citizens will be able to choose the new authorities which, as he put it, would not pursue a separatist policy. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

DSS leader: National unity condition for survival

Koštunica said in an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Večernje Novosti that the interests of Serbia and the EU in terms of the Kosovo and Metohija issue are directly opposed, adding that each agreement with the EU would mean that Serbia has capitulated.

When asked whether it is realistic that the country's economic development will be threatened if the EU integration process gets hindered by the failure of the dialogue with Priština, Koštunica said that the greatest pressure comes from the belief that Serbia would have a huge benefit from the EU integration process, although it is clear that a number of EU member states, such as Greece and Spain, are facing " a terrible crisis."

“We should develop the best possible economic cooperation with every EU country, but we should not shackle ourselves by wishing to become an EU member obviously to our own detriment. Any foreign company would come to Serbia if it can make profit, but none which is already here would go away because we have decided to reject the ultimatum to give Kosovo in,” the former Yugoslav president and Serbian prime minister said.

Koštunica believes that Serbia would have to insist on putting the talks on Kosovo under the UN Security Council mandate.

He noted that the UNSC discusses Kosovo every three months, and that the UNSC mandate is not over, while Resolution 1244 is still in force.

“The EU mandate for the talks on Kosovo is short-term and when the possibilities for such talks are exhausted, the dialogue could only continue under the UNSC mandate,” the DSS leader said.

The Serbian government decided on Monday to seek an urgent resumption of the EU-mediated dialogue with Priština.

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that the government cannot accept the principles verbally presented to its negotiating team, because they do not guarantee safety, survival and human rights protection to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

When asked whether he expects early parliamentary elections in the coming months, Koštunica said that it is not good for the government to fall because it does not accept foreign dictatorship.

"After that, we should confer in a peaceful atmosphere on when to call the elections," Koštunica said.

He said that the autonomous province of Vojvodina needs elections at which the citizens will be able to choose the new authorities which, as he put it, would not pursue a separatist policy.