PM believes "majority of citizens" don't want referendum

BELGRADE Ivica Dacic believes that "a huge majority of citizens think differently than those who are seeking a referendum and are opposed to the Kosovo agreement." The Serbian prime minister spoke for the Belgrade-based Pink TV late on Sunday to say that a plebiscite on the issue "would lead to new divisions." PM believes "majority of citizens" don't want referendum He stated that a possible referendum question was discussed with representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo, and added the question "should not contain any traps." Dacic further asserted that he was "neither in favor nor against" the holding of the referendum, and warned that if the agreement "fell" in this way, his government would see the same fate. "Otherwise, Serbs from the north must accept the implementation (of the agreement) or withdraw from their positions," he said. Commenting on the Kosovo deal he recently reached with Hashim Thaci under EU mediation, Dacic said that it was "not ideal," but that "its acceptance should be united." Furthermore, the prime minister believes that the holding of a referendum "would make sense if it serves to reach unity." Dacic announced that he and his first deputy, Aleksandar Vucic, would likely meet with Serbs from northern Kosovo on Tuesday, but could not confirm "if and when" they might arrive. During the previous meeting last week, the formulation of the referendum question was discussed, he said, and added that it should be "clear and concrete - 'are you in favor of accepting the Brussels agreement, or not'." Commenting on an attack against two boys in northern Kosovo, Dacic said that "all this was happening when there is no agreement yet," and then noted that "CNN and BBC journalists should be asked to comment on the event." The prime minister also urged Serbs from northern Kosovo "not to whine," and added that "the authorities are on their side." The prime minister is convinced that the image of Serbia is now changed in the world, while the rejection of the deal would "reflect catastrophically." Asked to comment on the fact that the suspects for the attack against the boys in Kosovska Mitrovica had been released, while two Serbs were held on "espionage" charges, the prime minister noted that "there will always be double standards." "I am calling on the Serbs to realize that it is not enough to just whine, they should accept foreign reporters, and not beat them when they come," Beta news agency quoted Dacic as saying. He then stressed that Serbia should "make use of its improved international position and strengthen ties with all friends in the world - because nothing can be done without the development of the economy." (Beta, file) Beta Pink TV

PM believes "majority of citizens" don't want referendum

He stated that a possible referendum question was discussed with representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo, and added the question "should not contain any traps."

Dačić further asserted that he was "neither in favor nor against" the holding of the referendum, and warned that if the agreement "fell" in this way, his government would see the same fate.

"Otherwise, Serbs from the north must accept the implementation (of the agreement) or withdraw from their positions," he said.

Commenting on the Kosovo deal he recently reached with Hashim Thaci under EU mediation, Dačić said that it was "not ideal," but that "its acceptance should be united."

Furthermore, the prime minister believes that the holding of a referendum "would make sense if it serves to reach unity."

Dačić announced that he and his first deputy, Aleksandar Vučić, would likely meet with Serbs from northern Kosovo on Tuesday, but could not confirm "if and when" they might arrive.

During the previous meeting last week, the formulation of the referendum question was discussed, he said, and added that it should be "clear and concrete - 'are you in favor of accepting the Brussels agreement, or not'."

Commenting on an attack against two boys in northern Kosovo, Dačić said that "all this was happening when there is no agreement yet," and then noted that "CNN and BBC journalists should be asked to comment on the event."

The prime minister also urged Serbs from northern Kosovo "not to whine," and added that "the authorities are on their side."

The prime minister is convinced that the image of Serbia is now changed in the world, while the rejection of the deal would "reflect catastrophically."

Asked to comment on the fact that the suspects for the attack against the boys in Kosovska Mitrovica had been released, while two Serbs were held on "espionage" charges, the prime minister noted that "there will always be double standards."

"I am calling on the Serbs to realize that it is not enough to just whine, they should accept foreign reporters, and not beat them when they come," Beta news agency quoted Dačić as saying.

He then stressed that Serbia should "make use of its improved international position and strengthen ties with all friends in the world - because nothing can be done without the development of the economy."