"EU membership condition for economic survival"

Leader of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) Tomislav Nikolic stated on Saturday that the EU membership is a condition for Serbia's economic survival. He added that this is the reason why he cannot cooperate with the parties that would request from him to pursue a policy that would lead the country in a different direction. "EU membership condition for economic survival" "I will never say that Serbia should not be in the EU. Those who request that cannot cooperate with me," Nikolic said ahead of the meeting with the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica on Monday, at which they ought to discuss the possibility of cooperation between the two parties. Commenting on the DSS's position that the main political principle of the opposition's joint activities for calling early elections must be the change of the government's policy that the EU has no alternative, Nikolic stated for Tanjug that the talks will show "how far the DSS has gone in the opinion that Serbia should not be an EU member." "I believe that Serbia will be an EU member and that Kostunica has largely contributed to that when he was president and prime minister," Nikolic said, adding that he wants to know whether Kostunica and DSS may have found an alternative solution for the country's economic recovery. Nikolic specified that SNS had held talks with the New Serbia party, the Movement of Socialists, the Strength of Serbia Movement and the Vlach Democratic Party of Serbia, adding that a high level of agreement has been reached. "These are now concrete talks, a preparation for the elections, determining of the tasks within a long list that we would make," Nikolic underscored. He stressed, however, that the opposition cannot force the ruling coalition to call early elections and added that SNS does not intend to protest in order to shake the government.

"EU membership condition for economic survival"

"I will never say that Serbia should not be in the EU. Those who request that cannot cooperate with me," Nikolić said ahead of the meeting with the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Koštunica on Monday, at which they ought to discuss the possibility of cooperation between the two parties.

Commenting on the DSS's position that the main political principle of the opposition's joint activities for calling early elections must be the change of the government's policy that the EU has no alternative, Nikolić stated for Tanjug that the talks will show "how far the DSS has gone in the opinion that Serbia should not be an EU member."

"I believe that Serbia will be an EU member and that Koštunica has largely contributed to that when he was president and prime minister," Nikolić said, adding that he wants to know whether Koštunica and DSS may have found an alternative solution for the country's economic recovery.

Nikolić specified that SNS had held talks with the New Serbia party, the Movement of Socialists, the Strength of Serbia Movement and the Vlach Democratic Party of Serbia, adding that a high level of agreement has been reached.

"These are now concrete talks, a preparation for the elections, determining of the tasks within a long list that we would make," Nikolić underscored.

He stressed, however, that the opposition cannot force the ruling coalition to call early elections and added that SNS does not intend to protest in order to shake the government.