"Our exclusion from EU processes detrimental"

Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic says continuous exclusion of Serbia from all European processes was not in the interests of the EU. The deputy PM and interior minister in the current government explained at the SPS Main Board meeting on Saturday that a destabilized Serbia could destabilize the whole region. "Our exclusion from EU processes detrimental" Dacic stressed that Serbia could renounce Kosovo because it had a legitimacy to defend its interests and that outside pressures were counterproductive. He said that some countries of the region had signed demarcation agreements and that he did not see why Serbia could not do the same. According to the SPS leader, it is in Serbia’s best interest to preserve its territorial integrity and to look for a solution for the issues between Serbs and Albanians. He said that Serbia could not be erased from the map of Europe and that it could only be detrimental to the EU interests if Serbia be isolated. “Only a stable Serbia can be in Europe's interest,” the SPS leader stressed. “Serbia is committed to the continuation of European integration, but only side by side with the protection of national interests,” said Dacic. He asked whether the people from the international institutions who had said on October 5, 2000 that all was certain as long as Slobodan Milosevic was ousted had any responsibility for the current situation. “Milosevic is not here any more, but all the problems persist. Who is responsible for the fact that since October 5, 2000 to date, Serbian citizens' support of the EU fell by 50 percent?” Dacic asked. “The objectives of SPS are winning the elections and forming an efficient and accountable government that will successfully and as painlessly as possible overcome the economic crisis and find a compromise with the EU while still protecting the national interests of Serbia,” he said. He stressed that his party would be the one to decide the results of the upcoming elections because, he claims, without the Socialists it will not be possible to form a government. “We need a strong and modern Serbia, which will be more present in Kosovo and Metohija and as much a European Serbia as it can be,” the SPS leader said, adding that Serbia was committed to the continuation of European integration side by side with the protection of national interests. The SPS coalition partners, United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) and United Serbia (JS), leader Jovan Krkobabic and Dragan Markovic said today that this was the only coalition that was “licensed by citizens,” adding that it was ready to contest the elections jointly. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug)

"Our exclusion from EU processes detrimental"

Dačić stressed that Serbia could renounce Kosovo because it had a legitimacy to defend its interests and that outside pressures were counterproductive.

He said that some countries of the region had signed demarcation agreements and that he did not see why Serbia could not do the same.

According to the SPS leader, it is in Serbia’s best interest to preserve its territorial integrity and to look for a solution for the issues between Serbs and Albanians.

He said that Serbia could not be erased from the map of Europe and that it could only be detrimental to the EU interests if Serbia be isolated.

“Only a stable Serbia can be in Europe's interest,” the SPS leader stressed.

“Serbia is committed to the continuation of European integration, but only side by side with the protection of national interests,” said Dačić.

He asked whether the people from the international institutions who had said on October 5, 2000 that all was certain as long as Slobodan Milošević was ousted had any responsibility for the current situation.

“Milošević is not here any more, but all the problems persist. Who is responsible for the fact that since October 5, 2000 to date, Serbian citizens' support of the EU fell by 50 percent?” Dačić asked.

“The objectives of SPS are winning the elections and forming an efficient and accountable government that will successfully and as painlessly as possible overcome the economic crisis and find a compromise with the EU while still protecting the national interests of Serbia,” he said.

He stressed that his party would be the one to decide the results of the upcoming elections because, he claims, without the Socialists it will not be possible to form a government.

“We need a strong and modern Serbia, which will be more present in Kosovo and Metohija and as much a European Serbia as it can be,” the SPS leader said, adding that Serbia was committed to the continuation of European integration side by side with the protection of national interests.

The SPS coalition partners, United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) and United Serbia (JS), leader Jovan Krkobabić and Dragan Marković said today that this was the only coalition that was “licensed by citizens,” adding that it was ready to contest the elections jointly.