Radicals, DSS come up with draft agreement

The scramble to put together a government coalition has started, with the DSS-NS and the Radicals (SRS) so far the only parties that officially met for talks. The two sides today in Belgrade harmonized a proposal on an agreement which is to define the character and program goals of the new, "national Serbian government", DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenovic told reporters. Radicals, DSS come up with draft agreement He also announced that his party, led by outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, will Wednesday meet with the officials from the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). Mladenovic revealed that today's meeting agreed Aleksandar Vucic, SRS candidate for the mayor of Belgrade, will tomorrow hold consultations over the setting up of city authorities in the capital. "The meeting between the DSS-NS and SRS delegations, led by Vojislav Kostunica and Tomislav Nikolic, harmonized the proposal on the character and program of the new national government," Mladenovic confirmed. He also said the meeting with the coalition gathered around the Socialists will be held tomorrow, in order to explore the possibilities to put together a new cabinet. As for the possible negotiations on the same subject with Boris Tadic's Democrats (DS), Mladenovic said the differences between the two political parties are now insurmountable. Nikolic, deputy leader of the SRS, said after the talks that there is great understanding between his party and the DSS-NS coalition, and that the next government's priority must be to preserve the country's integrity and sovereignty. The Radicals declined to offer any comment when asked who is discussed as the next new prime minister. The minister for Kosovo in the caretaker cabinet, Slobodan Samardzic, DSS, late last night told state television RTS that Kosovo played a major role in the forging of the alliance between his party and the Radicals. The two sides, Samardzic said, found that their position on Kosovo in identical, and that the next government's main goal will be to maintain the state in its territorial integrity. He also reminded that the now outgoing government, made up of the DS, DSS-NS and G17 Plus collapsed precisely over this issue. "There is nothing that could make us work with them [DS] again," Samardzic was adamant. He said the DSS-NS coalition has promoted four principles: Kosovo within Serbia, fight against corruption, economic development, and as a modified principle – European integrations, but not unconditionally, in other words, only with Kosovo as a part of Serbia. He added cooperation with the Hague Tribunal must be viewed as an obligation for the state, not a government program principle. Samardzic also refused to speculate on who the new premier may be. Key players in next government? (B92) SPS, kingmaker As the results of the elections Sunday came in, it became obvious that the party founded and led by Slobodan Milosevic for more than a decade will likely play the key role in deciding which of the major blocks of parties and coalitions will be able to come up with a majorty of votes in parliament to elect the next cabinet. The DS, DSS and SRS have all expressed an interest in coalition talks with the Socialists. This party's leaders said earlier that there had been no formal talks with any other party as of yet. SPS official Branko Ruzic said that talks between SPS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) will begin today and that “the principle of negotiations will be transparency exclusively." “We have not had any official contact nor have we talked to anyone. What SPS President Ivica Dacic said is that we will begin talks with the coalition led by Vojislav Kostunica, which does not mean that we will not take into consideration the fact that the Serb Radical Party (SRS) has also received a credible amount of votes,” Ruzic said. He said that the SPS “will also take into consideration the fact that the list led by the Democratic Party also received a large number of votes.” The DSS has expressed an interest in talks with the Socialists and has already begun negotiations with the SRS.

Radicals, DSS come up with draft agreement

He also announced that his party, led by outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, will Wednesday meet with the officials from the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).

Mladenović revealed that today's meeting agreed Aleksandar Vučić, SRS candidate for the mayor of Belgrade, will tomorrow hold consultations over the setting up of city authorities in the capital.

"The meeting between the DSS-NS and SRS delegations, led by Vojislav Koštunica and Tomislav Nikolić, harmonized the proposal on the character and program of the new national government," Mladenović confirmed.

He also said the meeting with the coalition gathered around the Socialists will be held tomorrow, in order to explore the possibilities to put together a new cabinet.

As for the possible negotiations on the same subject with Boris Tadić's Democrats (DS), Mladenović said the differences between the two political parties are now insurmountable.

Nikolić, deputy leader of the SRS, said after the talks that there is great understanding between his party and the DSS-NS coalition, and that the next government's priority must be to preserve the country's integrity and sovereignty.

The Radicals declined to offer any comment when asked who is discussed as the next new prime minister.

The minister for Kosovo in the caretaker cabinet, Slobodan Samardžić, DSS, late last night told state television RTS that Kosovo played a major role in the forging of the alliance between his party and the Radicals.

The two sides, Samardžić said, found that their position on Kosovo in identical, and that the next government's main goal will be to maintain the state in its territorial integrity.

He also reminded that the now outgoing government, made up of the DS, DSS-NS and G17 Plus collapsed precisely over this issue.

"There is nothing that could make us work with them [DS] again," Samardžić was adamant.

He said the DSS-NS coalition has promoted four principles: Kosovo within Serbia, fight against corruption, economic development, and as a modified principle – European integrations, but not unconditionally, in other words, only with Kosovo as a part of Serbia.

He added cooperation with the Hague Tribunal must be viewed as an obligation for the state, not a government program principle.

Samardžić also refused to speculate on who the new premier may be.

SPS, kingmaker

As the results of the elections Sunday came in, it became obvious that the party founded and led by Slobodan Milošević for more than a decade will likely play the key role in deciding which of the major blocks of parties and coalitions will be able to come up with a majorty of votes in parliament to elect the next cabinet.

The DS, DSS and SRS have all expressed an interest in coalition talks with the Socialists.

This party's leaders said earlier that there had been no formal talks with any other party as of yet.

SPS official Branko Ružić said that talks between SPS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) will begin today and that “the principle of negotiations will be transparency exclusively."

“We have not had any official contact nor have we talked to anyone. What SPS President Ivica Dačić said is that we will begin talks with the coalition led by Vojislav Koštunica, which does not mean that we will not take into consideration the fact that the Serb Radical Party (SRS) has also received a credible amount of votes,” Ružić said.

He said that the SPS “will also take into consideration the fact that the list led by the Democratic Party also received a large number of votes.”

The DSS has expressed an interest in talks with the Socialists and has already begun negotiations with the SRS.