DSS slams govt. over northern Kosovo, calls for elections

BELGRADE Problems during the constituting of municipalities in north Kosovo and the social and moral decline are clear indicators that it is time for early elections. This is what Slobodan Samardzic, vice president of the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), stated on Monday. DSS slams govt. over northern Kosovo, calls for elections He said that the councilors of four northern Kosovo municipalities were forced to sign the statement bearing the coat of arms of the illegally proclaimed republic of Kosovo, which was covered with a sticker that was to be peeled off later in Pristina. Samardzic said that it is strange that certain Serb officials have said that Pantic's resignation is irrelevant bearing in mind that the entire tactics of the victory of the Citizens' Initiative Srpska was based on his leadership. He underlined that the latest events in Kosovo have brought into question Belgrade's main argument referring to the normalization of the relations with Pristina on the EU pathway. "The campaign of deception will last in the forthcoming years as long as it has effects on the citizens of Serbia, but this cannot last long since Serbia will be stuck on the outskirts of the EU," Samardzic said. "This and poor economic, social and moral situation in Serbia are calling for new parliamentary elections," he underlined, adding that #it should be checked whether the popularity of the ruling coalition, primarily the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), is real since the program they presented in the 2012 elections is different from the one they implement today." "It should be checked whether people have really voted for Kosovo's s secession from Serbia with the help of the Serbian government, the country's indebtedness of three-four billion euros, procrastination of the solution to the constitutional issue of the province of Vojvodina and whether they are satisfied with the over social situation in Serbia," Samardzic said. Slobodan Samardzic (Beta, file) "Brussels agreement will soon collapse" The winner of northern Kosovska Mitrovica mayoral elections Krstimir Pantic refused to take the oath of office citing that this would be a violation of the Constitution of Serbia. In an interview for the Monday's edition of Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti, Pantic explained that he renounced the office of the mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica because he did not want to sign a document with the coat-of-arms of Kosovo and the symbols stating that Kosovo is a republic, stressing that this would constitute a violation of the Constitution. He disagreed with several Serb council members and mayors who claimed that the statements they signed at official ceremonies in northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic late on Saturday were status-neutral. "There is no status-neutrality in the signed statements. It is sad to see what our council members and mayors were forced to accept. We are not only being robbed of a part of our territory, but our dignity and intelligence are offended as well,” said Pantic. Explaining why he claims that the elections in Kosovo and Metohija were a deception by the international community, Pantic pointed to the election materials. "They promised and guaranteed status-neutral elections, they gave us status-neutral materials, but as soon as we handed them in to OSCE, the symbols indicating Kosovo's statehood were placed on them," Pantic explained. Due to the latest events, he noted, the Brussels agreement will collapse very soon. "It will not be the responsibility of the Serbian government, but of the international community," said Pantic. Tanjug

DSS slams govt. over northern Kosovo, calls for elections

He said that the councilors of four northern Kosovo municipalities were forced to sign the statement bearing the coat of arms of the illegally proclaimed republic of Kosovo, which was covered with a sticker that was to be peeled off later in Priština.

Samardžić said that it is strange that certain Serb officials have said that Pantić's resignation is irrelevant bearing in mind that the entire tactics of the victory of the Citizens' Initiative Srpska was based on his leadership.

He underlined that the latest events in Kosovo have brought into question Belgrade's main argument referring to the normalization of the relations with Priština on the EU pathway.

"The campaign of deception will last in the forthcoming years as long as it has effects on the citizens of Serbia, but this cannot last long since Serbia will be stuck on the outskirts of the EU," Samardžić said.

"This and poor economic, social and moral situation in Serbia are calling for new parliamentary elections," he underlined, adding that #it should be checked whether the popularity of the ruling coalition, primarily the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), is real since the program they presented in the 2012 elections is different from the one they implement today."

"It should be checked whether people have really voted for Kosovo's s secession from Serbia with the help of the Serbian government, the country's indebtedness of three-four billion euros, procrastination of the solution to the constitutional issue of the province of Vojvodina and whether they are satisfied with the over social situation in Serbia," Samardžić said.

"Brussels agreement will soon collapse"

The winner of northern Kosovska Mitrovica mayoral elections Krstimir Pantić refused to take the oath of office citing that this would be a violation of the Constitution of Serbia.

In an interview for the Monday's edition of Belgrade-based daily Večernje Novosti, Pantić explained that he renounced the office of the mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica because he did not want to sign a document with the coat-of-arms of Kosovo and the symbols stating that Kosovo is a republic, stressing that this would constitute a violation of the Constitution.

He disagreed with several Serb council members and mayors who claimed that the statements they signed at official ceremonies in northern Mitrovica, Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić late on Saturday were status-neutral.

"There is no status-neutrality in the signed statements. It is sad to see what our council members and mayors were forced to accept. We are not only being robbed of a part of our territory, but our dignity and intelligence are offended as well,” said Pantić.

Explaining why he claims that the elections in Kosovo and Metohija were a deception by the international community, Pantić pointed to the election materials.

"They promised and guaranteed status-neutral elections, they gave us status-neutral materials, but as soon as we handed them in to OSCE, the symbols indicating Kosovo's statehood were placed on them," Pantić explained.

Due to the latest events, he noted, the Brussels agreement will collapse very soon.

"It will not be the responsibility of the Serbian government, but of the international community," said Pantić.