Tomislav Nikolić resigns

Admittedly, I was surprised to hear the SRS would ratify the SAA. I am glad that it won't which pretty much stops this whole EU drive all together.

Alban my friend, just to make it clear. Albania has more chance of becoming a Serbian province than Presevo has of ever being traded for land that is already Serbian. Kosovo and Presevo will always remain Serbian and are not for sale so your "advice" is merely wishful thinking my friend.

Now as the divisions within the SRS are over with and as the ratification of the SAA relies on them (not sure why but it does), we can hopefully end this selling out to the EU once and for all.

Of course some people won't be happy but it is in Serbia's greater interest to protect its territorial integrity. This whole independence drive for Kosovo is beginning to backfire in the faces of those who created it! The cost so far being Georgia, Serbia, Ukraine and Russia all for something that is already dead in the water. Oh well!

So what next for Serbia? New elections? Frankenstein obviously has difficulties operating.

Can someone clear this up? Why does Frankenstein need the SRS? Don't they have enough seats with the LDP to ratify it themselves?

Finally even poor Nikolic wanted to join Europe after seeing that there is no hope from Russia.
The attack on Georgia from Russia and the recognition of S. Ossetia and Abhkazia from Russia was a big bang for the serb politicians and it looks like it woke them up to realize that Russia only uses Serbia as a tool and at any given time Russia would do the same thing to serbs just like they did to georgians.
And the worst is yet to come... Recognition of Kosova by Russia.

Kosovo is lost, Seselj may have nothing to lose, but Serbia must live.
It is as simple as that!
As for Nikolic, GOOD RIDDENCE!

Although I do not support the ratification of Solana's agreement, I think Seselj made a grave error in undermining Mr. Nikolic. This is bad for the radicals, bad for the opposition and bad for Serbia

Nikolic is the best thing that ever happened to SRS. Without him the party will drop down to 10% or so.

Something positive that can come out of this is that Nikolic (and maybe Vukic) can start a new party without the negative political luggage that SRS is carrying. This can be the beginning of a new start.

These guys keep Kosovo on their agenda only for political gain. I am Albanian and I was in doubt years ago if Kosovo was going to get it's indipendence or not. My question was answered the moment the Russian solders left Pristina some years ago. I knew then it was only a matter of time. But for your polititian to keep feeding fake hopes I think is wrong.
To Alban.
What you propose would be a interesting deal for Albanians but Serbia does not want to lock with a huge key the communications to their orthodox brothers (and not only) in Saloniki and Athens.
As for resolutin 1244 forget it, it does not exist, It was gonne together with Yougoslavia.
Good luck to Indipendent Serbia.

This is great news. A leader tries to go against political ideology, to betray their leader, Seselj and co... and so the party kicks out its leader and continues on the same course. This is really good news and what true democratic principles are about. Hopefully the same will happen to the socialists, who have similarily betrayed their supporters... they already have killed their chances of joining parliament in future elections by betrayal, and the SRS party saw that some similar loss of supporters will happen to them too if they change their policies so fast. Dacic lost my support with his moves, and so did the SPS. The SRS has not made this same mistake, so I congratulate them.

I agree with Seselj that SAA and anything with EU means giving up Kosovo, but why is he allowed to run his party from jail?

Serbia's best bet: Offer to exchange Preshevo Valley with N Mitrovica and strike a deal ith EU to get in a bit earlier. Serbia cannot wait another 2-3-10 years to start working towards EU; Kosovo is not losing anything. EU is still trying to build their army and economy from scratch.

Wrong Lazar..

Nikolic is the one who was smart enough to really see what Serbia needs in the future. You obviously haven't been to Serbia in long enough time to see it your self so I can't blame you.

Nikolic is a smart sensible man who saw Serbia's economic and social prosperity in the EU.

Seselj is barking orders telling the Radicals aka the Seselj fan club what to do. The SRS is not a political party.. which is sad because I always liked them.. but they are not, they are a Seselj fan club and his legal defense team in the Serbian parliament.


Thank you Toma for have sense in what Serbia really needs... I hope the best for you!

Thank you and goodbye.

The time had come for Nikolic to leave the scene after failing to win critical elections centered on the issue of Kosovo.

Voting for any agreement with the EU when it is still trying to impose its will in Kosovo would indeed be contrary to the claim of Serbian sovereignty. From a political standpoint, it would also erase the main distinguishing difference between the Radical party and those political groups that have chosen to collaborate with the EU and the U.S. in neutering the Serbian nation through the theft of Kosovo.

Tomislav Nikolic lacked the energy and drive needed to win critical elections, he was incapable of forming a coalition with Kostunica that would have defended Kosovo, and he was detached from the critical youth voting block that has been keeping the Tadic-ites in power.

The Radical Party will benefit from his departure, because despite all that he did to raise the party's standing, his time is obviously now over. He deserves thanks and respect for his constructive decision to resign.

Onward and upward Serbian patriots!

Sincerely,

John Bosnitch

The "good" tradition of this party teach us that their leaders end in Hague.

where is Tomo going???

A sad day for Serbia, with Tomislav Nikolic gone from the political scene, Belgrade loses a beacon of tolerance and wisdom.

It is sad to see infighting on all fronts in Serbia, and Nikolic was good patriotic Serb mindful of building a strong Serbia.

Serbs can join EU but don't have the corrupt EU take away Kosovo, kill you leaders in Hague jails, and convict them in corrupt Kangroo courts.

The way I see unless Serbs start believing in themselves or Serbia would cease to exist within one generation. Combination of EU policy, corruption, and Saudi money along with Albanian demographic warfare.

I am not supporting those that are too close to be extremists like the SRS of forever. Though, in the last few weeks, Nikolic was obviously trying to put the SRS in a political position to be able to eventually take the power and the only for the SRS to do that is to become a little bit more moderated and Nikolic was right to want to focuse on the needs of the CITIZENS and NOT ONLY on the liberation of the criminal leader Vojislav Seselj that will end up between four walls for the rest of his life in a few months. The SRS had a leader that was even more popular than Vojislav Seselj. We can see that the SRS that destroyed this country will forever be the same SRS. Any wind of changes must be kicked out for the SRS. Fortunately, the Serbian citizens are not all ignorants and naives, the kicking out of Nikolic is going to deepen the downfall of those Radicals.

I thought this guy claimed that he will be out of political scene if Kosovo becomes independent!? In my opinion he prolonged this move, which he should have done if he was a man of his own word as early as Feb 17th

I am amazed at how much people in Serbia put up with what their politicians come up with regards to Kosovo. Kostunica and many out there, including Radicals and even so called democrats of President Tadic, somehow believes that one day Serbia will have its hands free and do whatever it whishes for with Kosovo (it is unfortunate to find that this view is shared by a substantial part of the Serb population). They all forget that the only way to achieve that is through war and total destruction of Kosovo since as the situation is now the 2 million and more Albanians in Kosovo, having tasted the freedom, will never accept a Serb rule again.

So now we have got this out in the open. And now that we see that these newspaper reports about splits in the SRS were completely true...

What happens now? I think that Vucic will make a grab for power. He will cosy up to the cursing, cheerleading Seselj lobby again. There is no apparant successor for the Nikolic wing, which is a shame, but thats what happens in a party still run by the order of one leader.

The chance for SRS to reform has gone for now, I bet Nikolic wished he took on Seselj months ago when Gojkovic was still in the party.

I may not have agreed with him much but I will miss Toma. Good luck to him and his family.

Nikolic was stabbed politically from behind ... from SRS party members. Any other explanation has metaphysical character.

The amandment to the SAA, which was initiated by SRS, and which has blown up the govt led by Kostunica, it has no chance at all. Serbia can't sign the SAA, when the parliament breaks the constitution with this - and the EU will not confirm such a amendment, when there is a single member state agains this amendment. Serbia has produced this prolonged this dilemma, she will take years to solve it.

time to ask the population of Serbia for a definite solution has come, or Serbia will remain, what it is, while others prosper. for the politicians it is impossible to solve this problem - this is obvious for years now - and now this question has cost the political head of Nikolic.

For all those who talk about that "Toma was too weak to defend Kosovo" and stuff,i mean what the heck? just imagine this: suddenly the radicals take over Serbia,and Seselj comes out of jail,and he gets the presidential seat,Tadic and other people who sympatised with the EU are held in prison,Seselj and all the other "land loving heroes" are in charge,they can do everything they want,so,they want Kosovo back,what can they do? please answer to me,will Seselj go down to Kosovo and beg the Albanins to withdraw there declaration of independence or he will take our armed forces to take Kosovo by force,attacking UN forces,and leading Serbia into a war,i may be stupid but i fail to see how can these ultranationalist "heroes" help Serbia.

and the problem is that most people here in Serbia fail to see the truth,all these nationalist are just using Kosovo,so that they can win the support of the people,and sadly people are falling for it,

You do'nt have to be a partizan of the Radical party to recognize great statemanship in the way Nicolic resigned. He knew that the SAA is objectively in Serbia's interest and that it has nothing to do with Kosovo. Besides he managed to attach an amendment to deal with that sensitivity. Of course he does not accept any tampering with that outcome.
It might not take long before rank and file Radicals understand that they cannot be governed from the Hague. They had only one leader that can stand in the shadow of Pasic and other Radicals, leaders that freed themselves from too much extremism.
Nikolic will be back soon enough. Anybody wants a bet?

Nikolic's resignation is quite understandable under the present circumstances... and so is SRS' position towards the SAA (and the DSS' and others).

EU leaders and some in Serbia keep saying Kosovo and EU accession are separate issues, but this and other developments in the near past prove they are quite interlinked.

What did they expect? That the SRS approved the SAA when it clearly means "ratifying" Kosovo's unilateral and illegal independence?

If the so called international "community" will not take into account Serbia's position, someone at the domestic level has to do something about it. Opposing SAA's ratification is a good way to start.

Serbia's territorial integrity is not for sale. Serbia's statehood is not for sale. Serbia's future is not for sale...

There comes a point when we all ponder: what is there to do when you face the "great" powers? Small actions do count, though.

Kosovo je Srbija!

Sincerely,
a true supporter from the other side of the globe.

I agree with Seselj that SAA and anything with EU means giving up Kosovo, but why is he allowed to run his party from jail?

Serbia's best bet: Offer to exchange Preshevo Valley with N Mitrovica and strike a deal ith EU to get in a bit earlier. Serbia cannot wait another 2-3-10 years to start working towards EU; Kosovo is not losing anything. EU is still trying to build their army and economy from scratch.

Kosovo is lost, Seselj may have nothing to lose, but Serbia must live.
It is as simple as that!
As for Nikolic, GOOD RIDDENCE!

The "good" tradition of this party teach us that their leaders end in Hague.

where is Tomo going???

These guys keep Kosovo on their agenda only for political gain. I am Albanian and I was in doubt years ago if Kosovo was going to get it's indipendence or not. My question was answered the moment the Russian solders left Pristina some years ago. I knew then it was only a matter of time. But for your polititian to keep feeding fake hopes I think is wrong.
To Alban.
What you propose would be a interesting deal for Albanians but Serbia does not want to lock with a huge key the communications to their orthodox brothers (and not only) in Saloniki and Athens.
As for resolutin 1244 forget it, it does not exist, It was gonne together with Yougoslavia.
Good luck to Indipendent Serbia.

Finally even poor Nikolic wanted to join Europe after seeing that there is no hope from Russia.
The attack on Georgia from Russia and the recognition of S. Ossetia and Abhkazia from Russia was a big bang for the serb politicians and it looks like it woke them up to realize that Russia only uses Serbia as a tool and at any given time Russia would do the same thing to serbs just like they did to georgians.
And the worst is yet to come... Recognition of Kosova by Russia.

I thought this guy claimed that he will be out of political scene if Kosovo becomes independent!? In my opinion he prolonged this move, which he should have done if he was a man of his own word as early as Feb 17th

I am amazed at how much people in Serbia put up with what their politicians come up with regards to Kosovo. Kostunica and many out there, including Radicals and even so called democrats of President Tadic, somehow believes that one day Serbia will have its hands free and do whatever it whishes for with Kosovo (it is unfortunate to find that this view is shared by a substantial part of the Serb population). They all forget that the only way to achieve that is through war and total destruction of Kosovo since as the situation is now the 2 million and more Albanians in Kosovo, having tasted the freedom, will never accept a Serb rule again.

Wrong Lazar..

Nikolic is the one who was smart enough to really see what Serbia needs in the future. You obviously haven't been to Serbia in long enough time to see it your self so I can't blame you.

Nikolic is a smart sensible man who saw Serbia's economic and social prosperity in the EU.

Seselj is barking orders telling the Radicals aka the Seselj fan club what to do. The SRS is not a political party.. which is sad because I always liked them.. but they are not, they are a Seselj fan club and his legal defense team in the Serbian parliament.


Thank you Toma for have sense in what Serbia really needs... I hope the best for you!

You do'nt have to be a partizan of the Radical party to recognize great statemanship in the way Nicolic resigned. He knew that the SAA is objectively in Serbia's interest and that it has nothing to do with Kosovo. Besides he managed to attach an amendment to deal with that sensitivity. Of course he does not accept any tampering with that outcome.
It might not take long before rank and file Radicals understand that they cannot be governed from the Hague. They had only one leader that can stand in the shadow of Pasic and other Radicals, leaders that freed themselves from too much extremism.
Nikolic will be back soon enough. Anybody wants a bet?

Admittedly, I was surprised to hear the SRS would ratify the SAA. I am glad that it won't which pretty much stops this whole EU drive all together.

Alban my friend, just to make it clear. Albania has more chance of becoming a Serbian province than Presevo has of ever being traded for land that is already Serbian. Kosovo and Presevo will always remain Serbian and are not for sale so your "advice" is merely wishful thinking my friend.

Now as the divisions within the SRS are over with and as the ratification of the SAA relies on them (not sure why but it does), we can hopefully end this selling out to the EU once and for all.

Of course some people won't be happy but it is in Serbia's greater interest to protect its territorial integrity. This whole independence drive for Kosovo is beginning to backfire in the faces of those who created it! The cost so far being Georgia, Serbia, Ukraine and Russia all for something that is already dead in the water. Oh well!

So what next for Serbia? New elections? Frankenstein obviously has difficulties operating.

Although I do not support the ratification of Solana's agreement, I think Seselj made a grave error in undermining Mr. Nikolic. This is bad for the radicals, bad for the opposition and bad for Serbia

Nikolic was stabbed politically from behind ... from SRS party members. Any other explanation has metaphysical character.

The amandment to the SAA, which was initiated by SRS, and which has blown up the govt led by Kostunica, it has no chance at all. Serbia can't sign the SAA, when the parliament breaks the constitution with this - and the EU will not confirm such a amendment, when there is a single member state agains this amendment. Serbia has produced this prolonged this dilemma, she will take years to solve it.

time to ask the population of Serbia for a definite solution has come, or Serbia will remain, what it is, while others prosper. for the politicians it is impossible to solve this problem - this is obvious for years now - and now this question has cost the political head of Nikolic.

It is sad to see infighting on all fronts in Serbia, and Nikolic was good patriotic Serb mindful of building a strong Serbia.

Serbs can join EU but don't have the corrupt EU take away Kosovo, kill you leaders in Hague jails, and convict them in corrupt Kangroo courts.

The way I see unless Serbs start believing in themselves or Serbia would cease to exist within one generation. Combination of EU policy, corruption, and Saudi money along with Albanian demographic warfare.

Can someone clear this up? Why does Frankenstein need the SRS? Don't they have enough seats with the LDP to ratify it themselves?

Nikolic is the best thing that ever happened to SRS. Without him the party will drop down to 10% or so.

Something positive that can come out of this is that Nikolic (and maybe Vukic) can start a new party without the negative political luggage that SRS is carrying. This can be the beginning of a new start.

A sad day for Serbia, with Tomislav Nikolic gone from the political scene, Belgrade loses a beacon of tolerance and wisdom.

I am not supporting those that are too close to be extremists like the SRS of forever. Though, in the last few weeks, Nikolic was obviously trying to put the SRS in a political position to be able to eventually take the power and the only for the SRS to do that is to become a little bit more moderated and Nikolic was right to want to focuse on the needs of the CITIZENS and NOT ONLY on the liberation of the criminal leader Vojislav Seselj that will end up between four walls for the rest of his life in a few months. The SRS had a leader that was even more popular than Vojislav Seselj. We can see that the SRS that destroyed this country will forever be the same SRS. Any wind of changes must be kicked out for the SRS. Fortunately, the Serbian citizens are not all ignorants and naives, the kicking out of Nikolic is going to deepen the downfall of those Radicals.

This is great news. A leader tries to go against political ideology, to betray their leader, Seselj and co... and so the party kicks out its leader and continues on the same course. This is really good news and what true democratic principles are about. Hopefully the same will happen to the socialists, who have similarily betrayed their supporters... they already have killed their chances of joining parliament in future elections by betrayal, and the SRS party saw that some similar loss of supporters will happen to them too if they change their policies so fast. Dacic lost my support with his moves, and so did the SPS. The SRS has not made this same mistake, so I congratulate them.

So now we have got this out in the open. And now that we see that these newspaper reports about splits in the SRS were completely true...

What happens now? I think that Vucic will make a grab for power. He will cosy up to the cursing, cheerleading Seselj lobby again. There is no apparant successor for the Nikolic wing, which is a shame, but thats what happens in a party still run by the order of one leader.

The chance for SRS to reform has gone for now, I bet Nikolic wished he took on Seselj months ago when Gojkovic was still in the party.

I may not have agreed with him much but I will miss Toma. Good luck to him and his family.

Thank you and goodbye.

The time had come for Nikolic to leave the scene after failing to win critical elections centered on the issue of Kosovo.

Voting for any agreement with the EU when it is still trying to impose its will in Kosovo would indeed be contrary to the claim of Serbian sovereignty. From a political standpoint, it would also erase the main distinguishing difference between the Radical party and those political groups that have chosen to collaborate with the EU and the U.S. in neutering the Serbian nation through the theft of Kosovo.

Tomislav Nikolic lacked the energy and drive needed to win critical elections, he was incapable of forming a coalition with Kostunica that would have defended Kosovo, and he was detached from the critical youth voting block that has been keeping the Tadic-ites in power.

The Radical Party will benefit from his departure, because despite all that he did to raise the party's standing, his time is obviously now over. He deserves thanks and respect for his constructive decision to resign.

Onward and upward Serbian patriots!

Sincerely,

John Bosnitch

Nikolic's resignation is quite understandable under the present circumstances... and so is SRS' position towards the SAA (and the DSS' and others).

EU leaders and some in Serbia keep saying Kosovo and EU accession are separate issues, but this and other developments in the near past prove they are quite interlinked.

What did they expect? That the SRS approved the SAA when it clearly means "ratifying" Kosovo's unilateral and illegal independence?

If the so called international "community" will not take into account Serbia's position, someone at the domestic level has to do something about it. Opposing SAA's ratification is a good way to start.

Serbia's territorial integrity is not for sale. Serbia's statehood is not for sale. Serbia's future is not for sale...

There comes a point when we all ponder: what is there to do when you face the "great" powers? Small actions do count, though.

Kosovo je Srbija!

Sincerely,
a true supporter from the other side of the globe.

For all those who talk about that "Toma was too weak to defend Kosovo" and stuff,i mean what the heck? just imagine this: suddenly the radicals take over Serbia,and Seselj comes out of jail,and he gets the presidential seat,Tadic and other people who sympatised with the EU are held in prison,Seselj and all the other "land loving heroes" are in charge,they can do everything they want,so,they want Kosovo back,what can they do? please answer to me,will Seselj go down to Kosovo and beg the Albanins to withdraw there declaration of independence or he will take our armed forces to take Kosovo by force,attacking UN forces,and leading Serbia into a war,i may be stupid but i fail to see how can these ultranationalist "heroes" help Serbia.

and the problem is that most people here in Serbia fail to see the truth,all these nationalist are just using Kosovo,so that they can win the support of the people,and sadly people are falling for it,