SPS sets out cooperation conditions

The SPS's conditions for entering government include an end to the persecution of the Milosevic family, and the release of ex-RTS Chief Dragoljub Milanovic. The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Vice-President Milutin Mrkonjic told daily Blic that he expected talks with the Serb Radical Party and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-New Serbia (NS) coalition over forming a government to continue. SPS sets out cooperation conditions He added that the coalition gathered around the SPS insisted on ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, a 10 percent increase in pensions, and moreover, for pensions to eventually reach 70 percent of salaries. “However, regardless of what happens, our condition is a cessation to the witchhunt against the Milosevic family, and the release of Dragoljub Milanovic,” said Mrkonjic. According to the senior SPS official, if the SRS and the DSS-NS accept those conditions, then the SPS will not even begin talks with the Democratic Party (DS). However, speaking to daily Vecernje Novosti, he said that an agreement with the Radicals and the DSS-NS did not mean that the SPS had “shut the door” on the DS, adding that he saw no reason why that agreement should be an obstacle to cooperation at republic level. Meanwhile, Chairman of the SPS Executive Committee Branko Ruzic has said that regardless of whether the EU is sending clear signals as to its desires, the new Serbian government will be the fruit of democratic processes. In an interview with Blic, he said that the principles of forming a national government had been agreed on with the DSS-NS coalition, adding that they did not have anything against the idea of DSS leader Vojislav Kostunica retaining the post of prime minister, though no agreement had yet been reached over the division of ministries. Asked whether the condition of power in Belgrade and at republic level coming as a package was acceptable, Ruzic replied that they were taking into consideration “the fact that the 'For a European Serbia' coalition performed creditably at the parliamentary ballot, and acquired absolute power in Vojvodina, which hasn’t happened for a long time.” Milutin Mrkonjic (FoNet, archive)

SPS sets out cooperation conditions

He added that the coalition gathered around the SPS insisted on ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, a 10 percent increase in pensions, and moreover, for pensions to eventually reach 70 percent of salaries.

“However, regardless of what happens, our condition is a cessation to the witchhunt against the Milošević family, and the release of Dragoljub Milanović,” said Mrkonjić.

According to the senior SPS official, if the SRS and the DSS-NS accept those conditions, then the SPS will not even begin talks with the Democratic Party (DS).

However, speaking to daily Večernje Novosti, he said that an agreement with the Radicals and the DSS-NS did not mean that the SPS had “shut the door” on the DS, adding that he saw no reason why that agreement should be an obstacle to cooperation at republic level.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the SPS Executive Committee Branko Ružić has said that regardless of whether the EU is sending clear signals as to its desires, the new Serbian government will be the fruit of democratic processes.

In an interview with Blic, he said that the principles of forming a national government had been agreed on with the DSS-NS coalition, adding that they did not have anything against the idea of DSS leader Vojislav Koštunica retaining the post of prime minister, though no agreement had yet been reached over the division of ministries.

Asked whether the condition of power in Belgrade and at republic level coming as a package was acceptable, Ružić replied that they were taking into consideration “the fact that the 'For a European Serbia' coalition performed creditably at the parliamentary ballot, and acquired absolute power in Vojvodina, which hasn’t happened for a long time.”