Opposition leader on Kosovo, EU, and Democrats

Tomislav Nikolic says that there is "only one point of disagreement" between his party and the DSS - and that is "when to call off negotiations with the EU". The leader of the opposition SNS party - which polls as the country's most popular, along with the Democratic Party (DS) - said that Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) "would do it now". Opposition leader on Kosovo, EU, and Democrats At the same time, he believed that "all the way until March, and perhaps after, we can establish some form cooperation with Europe, but not as a (EU) member, rather as a country that needs assistance in bringing order into the state". Nikolic, whose party was formed in 2008 after breaking off from the Serb Radicals (SRS), also asserted that he would "end all talks with EU representatives when Serbia is faced with a demand to give up on Kosovo and Metohija". Asked if this meant he would "give up on his second son" - a phrase he once used - he stated: "Speaking as a man aware of the difficult situation in Serbia, I'm still taking about the two sons. But if the condition for Serbia is to recognize her own province as independent, then Kosovo comes first. Some may say that it's hardship that should be gotten rid of, but I'm in politics and I know only the Serbian Constitution. I am bound by the Constitution, for it (Kosovo) to come first." Asked "how he would solve the Kosovo problem", Nikolic said that "until April 17", he would occasionally meet with Boris Tadic and "always discuss Kosovo": "When he hinted that we might have problems with the EU because of our defense of Kosovo, I told him: 'You'll always have our support to solve those problems. If the whole world attacks you when you defend Kosovo, the SNS will stand with you.' That's my position on Kosovo. I am telling the voters that a consensus on Kosovo is needed, and that means an agreement between the SNS and the DS." Here are more excerpts from Nikolic's interview for the Belgrade-based Blic newspaper: Don't you think your voters should know how you intend to solve the Kosovo issue? Is it not enough that I say that Kosovo is a part of Serbia. Almost every politician in Serbia is saying that. They are saying it, but they are not acting on it. Well, how have we been acting in the negotiations? We're stamping Kosovo stamps, changing license plates, paying additional insurance... is that the defense of Kosovo? No. I recently heard Minister Goran Bogdanovic respond to a question about dismantling institutions (in northern Kosovo) by saying that education and health-care systems were not being brought into question. That means Serbia should preserve that, and abolish the rest. Abolish local self-governments. How would you react to such demands coming from some EU members? I would tell them that is our territory, and that they cannot take it from us. And, I would ask them if perchance they had another plan. If you were in power, and received (German Chancellor) Angela Merkel, who told you you must abolish Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo, would you tell her that as far as you were concerned, the EU story was over? Yes. If she told me we would not get the status of candidate (for EU membership) unless we abolished Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija I would tell her that as far as they were concerned, we didn't deserve to become a candidate. What is your advice for President Boris Tadic, what should he do by March, when the EU is deciding on the candidate status? I'd tell him to talk to Tomislav Nikolic immediately. Publicly, in secret, any way he wishes, so that we can reach an agreement. You have said it that next year, the SNS will be in power for the first time. Which parties will form (the next government)? We know which won't. The DS will certainly not join us, and most likely neither will the SPS, because they're very much tied to each other; the SPO, the LDP, G17 Plus, and I guess, the SRS . Some of them we don't want for our allies, while others won't join us. The government will be made up of a coalition that will include us, representatives of (ethnic) minorities, and the DSS. Do you really think you will win enough votes to form the next government with the DSS and the minorities? I am convinced of that. Would you forge a coalition with the Radicals? I would offer that we make a coalition, which would be a sign that all was forgiven. Still, I don't think they'd accept. The PUPS (Pensioner Party) will hardly run in the elections alone. Who are they closer to - you or the SPS? I think they are closer to the Socialists (SPS) and the DS, because they are in a coalition. Still, it's questionable whether they had achieved what their voters want, what the population on whose votes they're counting wants. If they are satisfied, they should remain in that coalition. If not, where else could they go but to us. This government can only be replaced by the SNS. Both you and the Democrats (DS) have said you will not go together after the elections. But what if neither can form a government, would you talk to them? If Serbia is clear on the fact that either the DS or the SNS will be in power, Serbia will have a government. But what if it turns out you can only put together a government with the Democrats? We will not enter a coalition even then. That would seem as if the SNS were offering amnesty to the DS for the 11 years of their rule. Tomislav Nikolic (file) Blic

Opposition leader on Kosovo, EU, and Democrats

At the same time, he believed that "all the way until March, and perhaps after, we can establish some form cooperation with Europe, but not as a (EU) member, rather as a country that needs assistance in bringing order into the state".

Nikolić, whose party was formed in 2008 after breaking off from the Serb Radicals (SRS), also asserted that he would "end all talks with EU representatives when Serbia is faced with a demand to give up on Kosovo and Metohija". Asked if this meant he would "give up on his second son" - a phrase he once used - he stated:

"Speaking as a man aware of the difficult situation in Serbia, I'm still taking about the two sons. But if the condition for Serbia is to recognize her own province as independent, then Kosovo comes first. Some may say that it's hardship that should be gotten rid of, but I'm in politics and I know only the Serbian Constitution. I am bound by the Constitution, for it (Kosovo) to come first."

Asked "how he would solve the Kosovo problem", Nikolić said that "until April 17", he would occasionally meet with Boris Tadić and "always discuss Kosovo":

"When he hinted that we might have problems with the EU because of our defense of Kosovo, I told him: 'You'll always have our support to solve those problems. If the whole world attacks you when you defend Kosovo, the SNS will stand with you.' That's my position on Kosovo. I am telling the voters that a consensus on Kosovo is needed, and that means an agreement between the SNS and the DS."

Here are more excerpts from Nikolić's interview for the Belgrade-based Blic newspaper:

Don't you think your voters should know how you intend to solve the Kosovo issue?

Is it not enough that I say that Kosovo is a part of Serbia.

Almost every politician in Serbia is saying that.

They are saying it, but they are not acting on it. Well, how have we been acting in the negotiations? We're stamping Kosovo stamps, changing license plates, paying additional insurance... is that the defense of Kosovo? No. I recently heard Minister Goran Bogdanović respond to a question about dismantling institutions (in northern Kosovo) by saying that education and health-care systems were not being brought into question. That means Serbia should preserve that, and abolish the rest. Abolish local self-governments.

How would you react to such demands coming from some EU members?

I would tell them that is our territory, and that they cannot take it from us. And, I would ask them if perchance they had another plan.

If you were in power, and received (German Chancellor) Angela Merkel, who told you you must abolish Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo, would you tell her that as far as you were concerned, the EU story was over?

Yes. If she told me we would not get the status of candidate (for EU membership) unless we abolished Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija I would tell her that as far as they were concerned, we didn't deserve to become a candidate.

What is your advice for President Boris Tadić, what should he do by March, when the EU is deciding on the candidate status?

I'd tell him to talk to Tomislav Nikolić immediately. Publicly, in secret, any way he wishes, so that we can reach an agreement.

You have said it that next year, the SNS will be in power for the first time. Which parties will form (the next government)?

We know which won't. The DS will certainly not join us, and most likely neither will the SPS, because they're very much tied to each other; the SPO, the LDP, G17 Plus, and I guess, the SRS . Some of them we don't want for our allies, while others won't join us. The government will be made up of a coalition that will include us, representatives of (ethnic) minorities, and the DSS.

Do you really think you will win enough votes to form the next government with the DSS and the minorities?

I am convinced of that.

Would you forge a coalition with the Radicals?

I would offer that we make a coalition, which would be a sign that all was forgiven. Still, I don't think they'd accept.

The PUPS (Pensioner Party) will hardly run in the elections alone. Who are they closer to - you or the SPS?

I think they are closer to the Socialists (SPS) and the DS, because they are in a coalition. Still, it's questionable whether they had achieved what their voters want, what the population on whose votes they're counting wants. If they are satisfied, they should remain in that coalition. If not, where else could they go but to us. This government can only be replaced by the SNS.

Both you and the Democrats (DS) have said you will not go together after the elections. But what if neither can form a government, would you talk to them?

If Serbia is clear on the fact that either the DS or the SNS will be in power, Serbia will have a government.

But what if it turns out you can only put together a government with the Democrats?

We will not enter a coalition even then. That would seem as if the SNS were offering amnesty to the DS for the 11 years of their rule.