Lawmakers debate PM designate speech

The members of parliament are debating the government principles laid out earlier in the day by Mirko Cvetkovic. Tomislav Nikolic, who heads the Serb Radical Party (SRS) parliamentary group, said that the program read by Cvetkovic was a wish-list, and added he did not believe the new cabinet will have the capacity to realize the principles mentioned today. Lawmakers debate PM designate speech Nikolic, whose opposition SRS is the largest single party in parliament, continued that Cvetkovic said what his government would do, "but did not explain how". According to him, the Radicals will back this new cabinet in case there is a crisis situation in Kosovo, and if it need assistance from friends abroad". "On each law and each move", he said, the Radicals will monitor the new cabinet. Nikolic also commented on the part of the keynote address today that concerns Kosovo, saying that it remains unclear what the premier and his ministers intend to do in order to prevent the recognition of Kosovo's unilateral independence. "What does it mean, 'continued fight to preserve Kosovo within Serbia' – does that mean war? How will the world believe us that we want to preserve Kosovo and Metohija if our last defense is to say, we will not recognize," he wondered. Nikolic also believes that the first proclaimed goal of the government, "that is not contentious for anyone", namely, the country's European future, is a phrase "that hides something". That "something", according to the deputy SRS leader, are several future negative moves by the government, in violation of parliament's previous decisions. As for Cvetkovic's economic program, he continued, its is driven by the "get in debt and sell" logic. Nikolic also commented on Cvetkovic himself, saying that the PM designate does not have sufficient political authority, and that all the power in Serbia will be concentrated in President Boris Tadic's hands. Milos Aligrudic, the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-New Serbia (NS) whip in parliament, also took the stand to say that in his address, Cvetkovic had not given an answer as to what the state policy of his cabinet would be. Aligrudic, too, appraised that Cvetkovic lacked political authority to be at the helm of the government. Nowhere does the speech mention protection of Serbia's territorial integrity, the DSS official continued, or government's obligation to act on parliamentary resolutions on Kosovo. Another issue not mentioned is the cabinet's stance on EULEX mission in the province, he said. Aligrudic added that the government had been set up by Tadic and that he would be in charge of the body's work via Ivica Dacic (SPS) "his most trusted man”. The DSS-NS whip concluded that such a government will be guaranteed survival by those that stood behind its formation - domestic tycoons and foreign representatives. The Liberal-Democrats (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic said that this party will offer "conditional support for the Cvetkovic government", adding that the strategic goals listed today are "acceptable, but unrealistic and insufficiently specific". "You have not come forward with any concrete projects. If you are seeking support for the arrest of Ratko Mladic you will have it, if you want to annul concessions you will get it, just as when it comes to a redefining of the country's foreign policy, but these common places offer nothing specific and therefore we cannot give you our unconditional support," he addresses Cvetkovic. Although this government is informally introducing "a half-presidential" system in Serbia, Jovanovic said, the LDP "does not object to this". He explained that, in his opinion, it is Tadic who should take responsibility for continued reforms in Serbia. He also addressed Ivica Dacic, the likely new interior minister, by saying, "We expect you to arrest the remaining participants in the murder of the first democratic premier, Zoran Djindjic. That they are still at large is an affront for our society and incompetence of our police. We are asking this from you and we are expecting this," he said. The ethnic minority parliamentary group chief Balint Pastor of the Hungarian Coalition said the MPs from this ticket will vote in favor of electing Cvetkovic's cabinet. He said that the Hungarian minority sees the modernization of all of Serbia as its interest, and that it is ready to work to that end. Pastor also said his parliamentary group was unhappy to see the Socialists in the cabinet. "We are not prepared to suffer collective amnesia, and we are not prepared for amnesty, but we are ready to cooperate in order to achieve the government's goals."

Lawmakers debate PM designate speech

Nikolić, whose opposition SRS is the largest single party in parliament, continued that Cvetković said what his government would do, "but did not explain how".

According to him, the Radicals will back this new cabinet in case there is a crisis situation in Kosovo, and if it need assistance from friends abroad".

"On each law and each move", he said, the Radicals will monitor the new cabinet.

Nikolić also commented on the part of the keynote address today that concerns Kosovo, saying that it remains unclear what the premier and his ministers intend to do in order to prevent the recognition of Kosovo's unilateral independence.

"What does it mean, 'continued fight to preserve Kosovo within Serbia' – does that mean war? How will the world believe us that we want to preserve Kosovo and Metohija if our last defense is to say, we will not recognize," he wondered.

Nikolić also believes that the first proclaimed goal of the government, "that is not contentious for anyone", namely, the country's European future, is a phrase "that hides something".

That "something", according to the deputy SRS leader, are several future negative moves by the government, in violation of parliament's previous decisions.

As for Cvetković's economic program, he continued, its is driven by the "get in debt and sell" logic.

Nikolić also commented on Cvetković himself, saying that the PM designate does not have sufficient political authority, and that all the power in Serbia will be concentrated in President Boris Tadić's hands.

Miloš Aligrudić, the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-New Serbia (NS) whip in parliament, also took the stand to say that in his address, Cvetković had not given an answer as to what the state policy of his cabinet would be.

Aligrudić, too, appraised that Cvetković lacked political authority to be at the helm of the government.

Nowhere does the speech mention protection of Serbia's territorial integrity, the DSS official continued, or government's obligation to act on parliamentary resolutions on Kosovo.

Another issue not mentioned is the cabinet's stance on EULEX mission in the province, he said.

Aligrudić added that the government had been set up by Tadić and that he would be in charge of the body's work via Ivica Dačić (SPS) "his most trusted man”.

The DSS-NS whip concluded that such a government will be guaranteed survival by those that stood behind its formation - domestic tycoons and foreign representatives.

The Liberal-Democrats (LDP) leader Čedomir Jovanović said that this party will offer "conditional support for the Cvetković government", adding that the strategic goals listed today are "acceptable, but unrealistic and insufficiently specific".

"You have not come forward with any concrete projects. If you are seeking support for the arrest of Ratko Mladić you will have it, if you want to annul concessions you will get it, just as when it comes to a redefining of the country's foreign policy, but these common places offer nothing specific and therefore we cannot give you our unconditional support," he addresses Cvetković.

Although this government is informally introducing "a half-presidential" system in Serbia, Jovanović said, the LDP "does not object to this". He explained that, in his opinion, it is Tadić who should take responsibility for continued reforms in Serbia.

He also addressed Ivica Dačić, the likely new interior minister, by saying, "We expect you to arrest the remaining participants in the murder of the first democratic premier, Zoran Đinđić. That they are still at large is an affront for our society and incompetence of our police. We are asking this from you and we are expecting this," he said.

The ethnic minority parliamentary group chief Balint Pastor of the Hungarian Coalition said the MPs from this ticket will vote in favor of electing Cvetković's cabinet.

He said that the Hungarian minority sees the modernization of all of Serbia as its interest, and that it is ready to work to that end.

Pastor also said his parliamentary group was unhappy to see the Socialists in the cabinet.

"We are not prepared to suffer collective amnesia, and we are not prepared for amnesty, but we are ready to cooperate in order to achieve the government's goals."