DSS wants "legal analysis" of SAA

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) announced it will seek a legal analysis of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). This, according to party spokesman Andreja Mladenovic, will show the way forward for a possible compromise. DSS wants "legal analysis" of SAA The DSS is involved in negotiations to form the next government with the Radicals (SRS) and the Socialist (SPS)-led coalition, but differences over the association deal with the EU have recently emerged. “An analysis of the SAA will show the way for Serbia to find the best solution for both her state and national interests,” said Mladenovic in a regular news conference in Belgrade today. He added that the DSS viewed the agreement as "a legal issue, that should be treated as such”. "In accordance with the legal analysis, we will talk to our coalition partners and will reach a compromise solution that will represent the policy of the future coalition,” Mladenovic said. As an example of what a compromise solution meant, he mentioned a recent conclusion of the EU Council of Ministers that confirmed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. Mladenovic repeated that the SAA is a legitimate issue for discussion in the talks to form the new cabinet, and that the DSS is ready to talk to its future partners in order to reach the solution that would be acceptable to all sides. The DSS spokesman added that he expected that new coalition will be formed with the SRS and the coalition gathered around the Socialists (SPS), and that the three sides should reach "a strong and responsible majority in parliament". Serious talks are in progress, he said, especially active with the representatives of the Associated Pensioners Party (PUPS). According to Mladenovic, a team of experts is working to find ways to meet the request of the PUPS concerning the balancing of pensions. But he denied that the issue of setting free the former director of the state broadcaster RTS was raised during the talks, and added that something of the kind cannot be a subject of negotiations. The Socialists recently said that one of the conditions under which they are willing to join a new cabinet will be for their future partners to annul a court decision that found Dragoljub Milanovic guilty in the case of the 1999 deaths of RTS workers who died in a NATO air strike. Mladenovic, however, emphasized that no one at the DSS has even considered rehabilitating any convict in such a manner, and added this is a matter for the courts and the president of the republic, rather than for political parties. As for the controversial delay of the first city assembly meeting in Belgrade, where the DSS managed to put together a ruling coalition with the SRS and the SPS, he said these parties will tomorrow seek an immediate scheduling of this session. The new political bloc has today met and decided to organize several protests by the end of the week, because, the actions "cannot be allowed to continue without saying and doing something about it". Mladenovic said the request for an immediate calling of a constitutive meeting of the Belgrade assembly will be submitted to acting mayor Zoran Alimpic, DS. He repeated that the decision to schedule the meeting for July 14 is “undemocratic and an act of tyranny and arrogance.” The DSS spokesman added that he expects Alimpic to change his decision and said that “everyone who thinks that DSS, SRS and the coalition around SPS is not the majority in Belgrade, does not know mathematics and democracy.” Andreja Mladenovic (Tanjug)

DSS wants "legal analysis" of SAA

The DSS is involved in negotiations to form the next government with the Radicals (SRS) and the Socialist (SPS)-led coalition, but differences over the association deal with the EU have recently emerged.

“An analysis of the SAA will show the way for Serbia to find the best solution for both her state and national interests,” said Mladenović in a regular news conference in Belgrade today.

He added that the DSS viewed the agreement as "a legal issue, that should be treated as such”.

"In accordance with the legal analysis, we will talk to our coalition partners and will reach a compromise solution that will represent the policy of the future coalition,” Mladenović said.

As an example of what a compromise solution meant, he mentioned a recent conclusion of the EU Council of Ministers that confirmed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

Mladenović repeated that the SAA is a legitimate issue for discussion in the talks to form the new cabinet, and that the DSS is ready to talk to its future partners in order to reach the solution that would be acceptable to all sides.

The DSS spokesman added that he expected that new coalition will be formed with the SRS and the coalition gathered around the Socialists (SPS), and that the three sides should reach "a strong and responsible majority in parliament".

Serious talks are in progress, he said, especially active with the representatives of the Associated Pensioners Party (PUPS).

According to Mladenović, a team of experts is working to find ways to meet the request of the PUPS concerning the balancing of pensions.

But he denied that the issue of setting free the former director of the state broadcaster RTS was raised during the talks, and added that something of the kind cannot be a subject of negotiations.

The Socialists recently said that one of the conditions under which they are willing to join a new cabinet will be for their future partners to annul a court decision that found Dragoljub Milanović guilty in the case of the 1999 deaths of RTS workers who died in a NATO air strike.

Mladenović, however, emphasized that no one at the DSS has even considered rehabilitating any convict in such a manner, and added this is a matter for the courts and the president of the republic, rather than for political parties.

As for the controversial delay of the first city assembly meeting in Belgrade, where the DSS managed to put together a ruling coalition with the SRS and the SPS, he said these parties will tomorrow seek an immediate scheduling of this session.

The new political bloc has today met and decided to organize several protests by the end of the week, because, the actions "cannot be allowed to continue without saying and doing something about it".

Mladenović said the request for an immediate calling of a constitutive meeting of the Belgrade assembly will be submitted to acting mayor Zoran Alimpić, DS.

He repeated that the decision to schedule the meeting for July 14 is “undemocratic and an act of tyranny and arrogance.”

The DSS spokesman added that he expects Alimpić to change his decision and said that “everyone who thinks that DSS, SRS and the coalition around SPS is not the majority in Belgrade, does not know mathematics and democracy.”