“Complicated moment for Socialists"

The path of least resistance is for an SRS/DSS/NS/SPS coalition. Anything else will be a forced marriage that will simply not work.

How can the SPS form a coalition with a party that has been actively hostile to it and sent its leader to the Hague against the constitution?

I have full confidence that the SPS will not form a coalition with anyone else except the DSS, but I do expect it to consider all options carefully. Therefore, this mulling of options is totally expected.

A little patience first but a pro-Serbian government will prevail.

ZK UK: "A little patience first but a pro-Serbian government will prevail."

Is this for real? You sound like you're in some kind of time warp from the 1990s when it was totally normal to hear party leaders call their political rivals "bootlickers of the West." Is it not pro-Serbian to want Serbia to integrate with the EU, while at the same time undertaking all political, legal, and diplomatic measures to counter K-Albanian separatism? Or is it only pro-Serbian if your political program amounts to "we only have time to defend Kosovo, everything else will have to wait." Fortunately, Serbia is many years removed from the time when we couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time.

Tough decision?

Here is a word for the road ahead Dacic:

"I only wish for my people not to find out I was right when it's too late"

President Slobodan Milosevic

What is so difficult to understand about a pro-Serbian government? It is one that puts Serbia and its citizens before anything else.

The pro-EU parties, on the other hand, are the ones working with the very people attempting to tear Kosovo away. They put the EU/US, lies, deceit and carrots before Serbia and its citizens.

How do you expect the pro-EU parties to protect Kosovo when it is run by the very people who are attempting to take it away? They are supported by the Albanians, NATO, Solana and Bush.

And some think that is pro-Serbian? Time for a reality check I think!

And so it begins. Dacic begins to shift towards the DS coalition...

This is pretty much part of the game i suppose, Dacic is playing hard to get as long as it last.

The only thing that will make this party which is now not even remotely similar to that of President Milosevic, to turn sides, would be big money from Brussels and Washington.

Are Dacic for sale? That is the question...

Dacic needs a good kick. Finding himself in the role of kingmaker he is milking it for everything he can get. I do not like the man.

ZK UK,

You are dead right.

Solana and co. want to remake Serbia in their own image. But the Serbs (like good Irish people) will not play ball. Good for them!

I was a child 15 years ago and I always asked my daddy: IS THIS MILOSEVIC'S SON? And his answer was: HE IS NOT, BUT HE WILL BE. I never understood that. Children.
Now that I see that "future son" deciding on Serbia's future, I remember my daddy's words and start to understand that 1 million dollar question of my childhood. I`m a grown up now.

there´s nothing complicated in this!

sps can go with ds and have some great last months maybe even years of existence, or it can do what it promissed to it´s voters and stay a political factor in serbia.

questions about survival are never complicated and either way srs and dss will profit!

ZK I am sure the next goverment will be pro Serbian as there are no anti Serbian parties.

I think it's clear that the majority is for the signing of the SAA, and that no matter who will form the next goverment the SAA will be ratified in parlement.

Judging by the comments on this site there are as usuall lots of unfounded speculations going around. There is no way Washington is going to pay Dadic in order to form a goverment with the DS instead of with the Radicals and DSS. The decision is all in the hands of Dadic and the SPS itself and no-one else. If he says that he has more in common with the DS ideologically, then that's the only reason he hasn't made up his mind yet. Serbia needs an social democratic party, and hopefully the SPS has changed enough from the Milosovic days

I appologise to Mr.Kostunica to suspect him as the biggest prostitute in Serbia. Now I can see how deep mistaken I used to be !

Nick, 20 May

Nick don't be panic ! The things run not bad. I don't really believe that SPS can degradate enough to unite with the DS. Possibly it's just a trick to have better positions inside the cabinet with the patriots. Otherwise they will commit political suiside.

ZK I have to agree with Richard on your description of 'pro Serb'. To split serbia on the one side with 'pro Serbs' can only suggest that 'anti Serbs' are on the other.

That is not the case, rather its the emphasis of approach that separates the blocks.

In the same way I don't think DSS supporters would thank you for labeling their opponents at DS as pro European. 'We are also pro European' they would say, but their approach is different.

And I think you are wrong to question the intentions of those you disagree with. You should always consider the possibility that somebody (or a party) you disagree with may disagree genuinely, with no covered up intent.

As you know (although one should never just mindlessly support the opposite of ones 'enemy') Kosovo Albanians are not united on which party they would prefer in power in Serbia.

Some genuinely believe that a SRS/DSS government will cement their statehood and ward off the chances of Kosovo being split in the future. Others think that Tadic might not pursue such a hard line and hope he will back down on Kosovo.

As for George Bush, he may support Kosovo independence but he and his supporters have a lot more in common with SRS/DSS than with Tadic. Obama is very much similar to Tadic in terms of political position on a host of issues. He doesn't wear silly badges either...

Dacic is not blind: SRS/DSS & Co. would result in political revanchism in hundrets of city halls. Novi Sad is the very best example how SRS destroyed all post-milosevic structures. the citizens of Novi Sad voted SRS out just after one period! on international level SRS/DSS would mean the same deadlock policy performed by Kostunica for years. under his conduct nothing lasted for longer than two, three years since 1989 - and during last elections in Serbia Kostunica was slapped for this policy.

will SPS support SRS, which has invited Heinz-Christian Strache, the current leader of the former Haider party? SRS invited this politician to speak on a SRS gathering in Belgrade!

Dadic is not blind and he knows: the citizens of Serbia need politicians which have a clear vision for the country for the next decade - and not only for two or three years.

Tom O'Donoghue,

Since you keep comparing all way Serbs and Irish , would you be so kind to tell us if there is sth. like this http://aacl.com/expulsion23.html in the Irish history.

I don't know.

As an Albanian the Irish are very sympathetic to me. Sth. tells me that if the US and NATO would have been by Milosevic' side, your endless (and useless) sympathy would have been all for K-Albanians.

Slainte

ZK, It's you that needs to acknowledge the reality of today. Calling Serbs anti Serb because of their different view point is something from the past, and hopefully that stays that way.

Tadic isn't suported by the Albanians, Solana or whatever Tadic is suported by Serbs who wants to move on and have a better life. Maintaining close ties with the E.U. is of vital importance precisely for the sake of Serbia. Those who believe that we can afford it to rely only on Russia, and a few other countries are the ones who need a reality check.

The pro e.u. parties don't want to give Kosovo away, all the parties wants to maintain Kosovo as part of Serbia. But how do you except that to happen when we distance ourselves from the ones who can make that happen.

So please stop spliting up Serbs in an pro Serb and anti Serb camp. How can you even say such things especially when it's clear that most of the Serbs wants to move ahead once and for all closer to the E.U. We won't acknowledge Kosovo by doing so.

So again all are saying both the E.U. and Kosovo. However Tadics has a more realistic view on things, while Kostunica on the other the thing that's for sure is we will lose both Kosovo and the E.U.

According to some undisclosed sources in North of Mitrovica, Tadic will wait until government accord reached and if Socialist side with Radicals and Kostunica, he will ask for refuge in Kosovo and will lead Kosovo-Serbs List in Kosovo Parliament, if Socialist side with him then he will stay President of Serbia.
Don’t keep your breath ZK UK, it is just a joke.

"Most Serbians would like to join the EU, true, but not at the price of Kosovo. That is the pro-Serbian policy."

So you voted in favour of Tadic? You might as well have because Kostunica has the same stance as Tadic on the matter.
The only difference between the two is that Kostunica is in favour of burning our bridges now, while Tadic is chosing a more diplomatic way in trying to preserve Kosovo.

The only one with a realistic view however is Čedomir Jovanović. But I think it's to soon to give up the fight.

bganon, as far as I'm concerned, there are two political groups. One being pro-Serbian and the other pro-EU. One puts Serbian interests first and the other puts EU interests first. Now EU interests do not necessarily translate into Serbian ones so that is my point.

What is obvious is the pro-EU groups are all co-ordinated and working together. They are all claiming victory and claim the desire of Serbia is that of the EU group.

Now that is false. Most Serbians would like to join the EU, true, but not at the price of Kosovo. That is the pro-Serbian policy.

So tell me, do you get the impression that the pro-EU group will be organising some kind of civil disobedience and attempt to disrupt the functioning of Serbia if they don't get into power?

Because from what I am reading, I get the impression that if they can't win the election they will attempt to steal it. These people will do anything and everything to keep Tadic in power.

Lets wait and see.

ZK for the umpteenth time DS also supports EU membership with Kosovo as a part of Serbia. Why on earth you are acting as if there is a difference in this desire is a mystery. As pointed out in practically every single speech Tadic gave on the campaign trail he spoke of Kosovo being a vital part of Serbia. But its never enough for you.

LDP for example considers itself a pro EU party (as do you). But how exactly can they proclaim victory? Will they be part of the government? I think we both know that DS's partner (if SPS decides so) will be SPS and not LDP. So much for a victory for LDP.

The policy of SPS "is the same" as SRS and DSS is it? Tell that to Ivica Dacic and Dragan Markovic. They seem to think that the SAA should be signed, which is, guess what, exactly the same position as DS. Mark my words (I'm not usually so willing to put my neck on the line) there is a very good chance that SAA will be signed whether the DS led coalition goes into government or not. According to your position and the position of the more radical DSS members, that would cause a serious crisis for a newly elected SRS led government. It could cause a no confidence vote.

If we have this (unprecedented) farcical situation in the newly elected government coalition I'd be surprised if there were not protests.

The alternative is for DSS to climbdown on the SAA issue, which is an option, as Samardzic hinted, until Beckovic forced his hand.

The problem with this is that if DSS agrees to sign SAA it will have exactly the same position as DS, making everybody wonder what elections were held for in the first place.

Most Serbians would like to join the EU, true, but not at the price of Kosovo. That is the pro-Serbian policy. (ZK UK, 20 May 2008 23:55)

noone forced the Kosovo for to declare it's independence but pro-Serbian policy. the longer Serbia is prolonging this conflict, the higher the price will be. for someone living in the UK it does not matter, of course.

bganon needles to say I completly agree with you. Couldn't have word it any better.

Sorry for the bad spelling and poor confusing and unfinished lines in my previous post. Don't know what happened there.

I can see the sociaists palying one side locally and the other nationally...and it makes sense for them to do so.

To: ORTHODOX RU
Why are you so surprised by a Serbian politition prostituting himself, how do you think we got into this mess to begin with? Until Serbia is governed by true statesmen, Kosovo is not all that we will lose.

Richard, "anti-Serb" is your word, not mine.

The policy of SRS/SPS/DSS is the same and that translates into EU membership only with Kosovo. Now that is the desire of the majority of Serbians and is therefore pro-Serbian.

Now making agreements and following the agenda of the very people interested in taking Kosovo away is a sure way of losing it. Now that would be the path of the pro-EU bloc.

You need to read my words carefully as your interpretation is being twisted all over the place.

A pro-Serbian government will maintain links where interest lie, whether they be in the EU, US, Russia, China, India and everywhere else in the world.

I hope you're not believing the scare stories coming from fairy land.

"One being pro-Serbian and the other pro-EU."

I've got to be honest here, I am indeed not following you.
If you say that there are pro-Serbian parties that also must mean that there are anti Serbian parties. But alright, re-reading your posts that is not what you're saying.
So see if I get this right this time. You're saying that "anti-Serb" are my words not yours. So that means that there are no anti Serb parties, are we clear on that?

You are also saying that the pro-Serb parties are not anti E.U. so they are also pro-E.U.

So all the parties are pro-E.U. and pro Serbia.

Alright then, so you would have no problem with Tadic then?

Tom O'Donoghue,

Since you keep comparing all way Serbs and Irish , would you be so kind to tell us if there is sth. like this http://aacl.com/expulsion23.html in the Irish history.

I don't know.

As an Albanian the Irish are very sympathetic to me. Sth. tells me that if the US and NATO would have been by Milosevic' side, your endless (and useless) sympathy would have been all for K-Albanians.

Slainte

The path of least resistance is for an SRS/DSS/NS/SPS coalition. Anything else will be a forced marriage that will simply not work.

How can the SPS form a coalition with a party that has been actively hostile to it and sent its leader to the Hague against the constitution?

I have full confidence that the SPS will not form a coalition with anyone else except the DSS, but I do expect it to consider all options carefully. Therefore, this mulling of options is totally expected.

A little patience first but a pro-Serbian government will prevail.

And so it begins. Dacic begins to shift towards the DS coalition...

I was a child 15 years ago and I always asked my daddy: IS THIS MILOSEVIC'S SON? And his answer was: HE IS NOT, BUT HE WILL BE. I never understood that. Children.
Now that I see that "future son" deciding on Serbia's future, I remember my daddy's words and start to understand that 1 million dollar question of my childhood. I`m a grown up now.

I can see the sociaists palying one side locally and the other nationally...and it makes sense for them to do so.

ZK I am sure the next goverment will be pro Serbian as there are no anti Serbian parties.

I think it's clear that the majority is for the signing of the SAA, and that no matter who will form the next goverment the SAA will be ratified in parlement.

Judging by the comments on this site there are as usuall lots of unfounded speculations going around. There is no way Washington is going to pay Dadic in order to form a goverment with the DS instead of with the Radicals and DSS. The decision is all in the hands of Dadic and the SPS itself and no-one else. If he says that he has more in common with the DS ideologically, then that's the only reason he hasn't made up his mind yet. Serbia needs an social democratic party, and hopefully the SPS has changed enough from the Milosovic days

ZK UK: "A little patience first but a pro-Serbian government will prevail."

Is this for real? You sound like you're in some kind of time warp from the 1990s when it was totally normal to hear party leaders call their political rivals "bootlickers of the West." Is it not pro-Serbian to want Serbia to integrate with the EU, while at the same time undertaking all political, legal, and diplomatic measures to counter K-Albanian separatism? Or is it only pro-Serbian if your political program amounts to "we only have time to defend Kosovo, everything else will have to wait." Fortunately, Serbia is many years removed from the time when we couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time.

To: ORTHODOX RU
Why are you so surprised by a Serbian politition prostituting himself, how do you think we got into this mess to begin with? Until Serbia is governed by true statesmen, Kosovo is not all that we will lose.

Dacic is not blind: SRS/DSS & Co. would result in political revanchism in hundrets of city halls. Novi Sad is the very best example how SRS destroyed all post-milosevic structures. the citizens of Novi Sad voted SRS out just after one period! on international level SRS/DSS would mean the same deadlock policy performed by Kostunica for years. under his conduct nothing lasted for longer than two, three years since 1989 - and during last elections in Serbia Kostunica was slapped for this policy.

will SPS support SRS, which has invited Heinz-Christian Strache, the current leader of the former Haider party? SRS invited this politician to speak on a SRS gathering in Belgrade!

Dadic is not blind and he knows: the citizens of Serbia need politicians which have a clear vision for the country for the next decade - and not only for two or three years.

According to some undisclosed sources in North of Mitrovica, Tadic will wait until government accord reached and if Socialist side with Radicals and Kostunica, he will ask for refuge in Kosovo and will lead Kosovo-Serbs List in Kosovo Parliament, if Socialist side with him then he will stay President of Serbia.
Don’t keep your breath ZK UK, it is just a joke.

ZK, It's you that needs to acknowledge the reality of today. Calling Serbs anti Serb because of their different view point is something from the past, and hopefully that stays that way.

Tadic isn't suported by the Albanians, Solana or whatever Tadic is suported by Serbs who wants to move on and have a better life. Maintaining close ties with the E.U. is of vital importance precisely for the sake of Serbia. Those who believe that we can afford it to rely only on Russia, and a few other countries are the ones who need a reality check.

The pro e.u. parties don't want to give Kosovo away, all the parties wants to maintain Kosovo as part of Serbia. But how do you except that to happen when we distance ourselves from the ones who can make that happen.

So please stop spliting up Serbs in an pro Serb and anti Serb camp. How can you even say such things especially when it's clear that most of the Serbs wants to move ahead once and for all closer to the E.U. We won't acknowledge Kosovo by doing so.

So again all are saying both the E.U. and Kosovo. However Tadics has a more realistic view on things, while Kostunica on the other the thing that's for sure is we will lose both Kosovo and the E.U.

ZK I have to agree with Richard on your description of 'pro Serb'. To split serbia on the one side with 'pro Serbs' can only suggest that 'anti Serbs' are on the other.

That is not the case, rather its the emphasis of approach that separates the blocks.

In the same way I don't think DSS supporters would thank you for labeling their opponents at DS as pro European. 'We are also pro European' they would say, but their approach is different.

And I think you are wrong to question the intentions of those you disagree with. You should always consider the possibility that somebody (or a party) you disagree with may disagree genuinely, with no covered up intent.

As you know (although one should never just mindlessly support the opposite of ones 'enemy') Kosovo Albanians are not united on which party they would prefer in power in Serbia.

Some genuinely believe that a SRS/DSS government will cement their statehood and ward off the chances of Kosovo being split in the future. Others think that Tadic might not pursue such a hard line and hope he will back down on Kosovo.

As for George Bush, he may support Kosovo independence but he and his supporters have a lot more in common with SRS/DSS than with Tadic. Obama is very much similar to Tadic in terms of political position on a host of issues. He doesn't wear silly badges either...

I appologise to Mr.Kostunica to suspect him as the biggest prostitute in Serbia. Now I can see how deep mistaken I used to be !

there´s nothing complicated in this!

sps can go with ds and have some great last months maybe even years of existence, or it can do what it promissed to it´s voters and stay a political factor in serbia.

questions about survival are never complicated and either way srs and dss will profit!

This is pretty much part of the game i suppose, Dacic is playing hard to get as long as it last.

The only thing that will make this party which is now not even remotely similar to that of President Milosevic, to turn sides, would be big money from Brussels and Washington.

Are Dacic for sale? That is the question...

Dacic needs a good kick. Finding himself in the role of kingmaker he is milking it for everything he can get. I do not like the man.

Tough decision?

Here is a word for the road ahead Dacic:

"I only wish for my people not to find out I was right when it's too late"

President Slobodan Milosevic

What is so difficult to understand about a pro-Serbian government? It is one that puts Serbia and its citizens before anything else.

The pro-EU parties, on the other hand, are the ones working with the very people attempting to tear Kosovo away. They put the EU/US, lies, deceit and carrots before Serbia and its citizens.

How do you expect the pro-EU parties to protect Kosovo when it is run by the very people who are attempting to take it away? They are supported by the Albanians, NATO, Solana and Bush.

And some think that is pro-Serbian? Time for a reality check I think!

Nick, 20 May

Nick don't be panic ! The things run not bad. I don't really believe that SPS can degradate enough to unite with the DS. Possibly it's just a trick to have better positions inside the cabinet with the patriots. Otherwise they will commit political suiside.

ZK UK,

You are dead right.

Solana and co. want to remake Serbia in their own image. But the Serbs (like good Irish people) will not play ball. Good for them!

Richard, "anti-Serb" is your word, not mine.

The policy of SRS/SPS/DSS is the same and that translates into EU membership only with Kosovo. Now that is the desire of the majority of Serbians and is therefore pro-Serbian.

Now making agreements and following the agenda of the very people interested in taking Kosovo away is a sure way of losing it. Now that would be the path of the pro-EU bloc.

You need to read my words carefully as your interpretation is being twisted all over the place.

A pro-Serbian government will maintain links where interest lie, whether they be in the EU, US, Russia, China, India and everywhere else in the world.

I hope you're not believing the scare stories coming from fairy land.

bganon, as far as I'm concerned, there are two political groups. One being pro-Serbian and the other pro-EU. One puts Serbian interests first and the other puts EU interests first. Now EU interests do not necessarily translate into Serbian ones so that is my point.

What is obvious is the pro-EU groups are all co-ordinated and working together. They are all claiming victory and claim the desire of Serbia is that of the EU group.

Now that is false. Most Serbians would like to join the EU, true, but not at the price of Kosovo. That is the pro-Serbian policy.

So tell me, do you get the impression that the pro-EU group will be organising some kind of civil disobedience and attempt to disrupt the functioning of Serbia if they don't get into power?

Because from what I am reading, I get the impression that if they can't win the election they will attempt to steal it. These people will do anything and everything to keep Tadic in power.

Lets wait and see.

bganon needles to say I completly agree with you. Couldn't have word it any better.

Sorry for the bad spelling and poor confusing and unfinished lines in my previous post. Don't know what happened there.

"Most Serbians would like to join the EU, true, but not at the price of Kosovo. That is the pro-Serbian policy."

So you voted in favour of Tadic? You might as well have because Kostunica has the same stance as Tadic on the matter.
The only difference between the two is that Kostunica is in favour of burning our bridges now, while Tadic is chosing a more diplomatic way in trying to preserve Kosovo.

The only one with a realistic view however is Čedomir Jovanović. But I think it's to soon to give up the fight.

"One being pro-Serbian and the other pro-EU."

I've got to be honest here, I am indeed not following you.
If you say that there are pro-Serbian parties that also must mean that there are anti Serbian parties. But alright, re-reading your posts that is not what you're saying.
So see if I get this right this time. You're saying that "anti-Serb" are my words not yours. So that means that there are no anti Serb parties, are we clear on that?

You are also saying that the pro-Serb parties are not anti E.U. so they are also pro-E.U.

So all the parties are pro-E.U. and pro Serbia.

Alright then, so you would have no problem with Tadic then?

ZK for the umpteenth time DS also supports EU membership with Kosovo as a part of Serbia. Why on earth you are acting as if there is a difference in this desire is a mystery. As pointed out in practically every single speech Tadic gave on the campaign trail he spoke of Kosovo being a vital part of Serbia. But its never enough for you.

LDP for example considers itself a pro EU party (as do you). But how exactly can they proclaim victory? Will they be part of the government? I think we both know that DS's partner (if SPS decides so) will be SPS and not LDP. So much for a victory for LDP.

The policy of SPS "is the same" as SRS and DSS is it? Tell that to Ivica Dacic and Dragan Markovic. They seem to think that the SAA should be signed, which is, guess what, exactly the same position as DS. Mark my words (I'm not usually so willing to put my neck on the line) there is a very good chance that SAA will be signed whether the DS led coalition goes into government or not. According to your position and the position of the more radical DSS members, that would cause a serious crisis for a newly elected SRS led government. It could cause a no confidence vote.

If we have this (unprecedented) farcical situation in the newly elected government coalition I'd be surprised if there were not protests.

The alternative is for DSS to climbdown on the SAA issue, which is an option, as Samardzic hinted, until Beckovic forced his hand.

The problem with this is that if DSS agrees to sign SAA it will have exactly the same position as DS, making everybody wonder what elections were held for in the first place.

Most Serbians would like to join the EU, true, but not at the price of Kosovo. That is the pro-Serbian policy. (ZK UK, 20 May 2008 23:55)

noone forced the Kosovo for to declare it's independence but pro-Serbian policy. the longer Serbia is prolonging this conflict, the higher the price will be. for someone living in the UK it does not matter, of course.