“Serbia needs strong govt. for EU progress”

European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin believes Serbia needs a strong government which will open the EU accession talks and get closer to the EU. He added that it was less important right now who would be president. “Serbia needs strong govt. for EU progress” Kacin told Sarajevo-based daily Dnevni avaz that the EU would accept the results of the democratic elections in Serbia and that whoever became president would have to represent Serbia as a whole - both those in favor of European integration and those opposed. He dismissed speculation that Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic would be more of service to Brussels as president than Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic had been. “We just cannot go into this,” said Kacin, recalling that back when Nikolic was a Serb Radical Party (SRS) leader he supported the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and thus allowed the process to get under way. Commenting on Islamic Community in Serbia Chief Mufti Muamer Zukorlic's candidacy for president, he said every citizen of Serbia had the active and passive right to choose and be chosen. “It is strange he is doing it in uniform, but since he has decided to run, I think the moment is nearing when he will take of his priest's uniform and move onto pure politics,” noted Kacin. Jelko Kacin (file) Tanjug

“Serbia needs strong govt. for EU progress”

Kacin told Sarajevo-based daily Dnevni avaz that the EU would accept the results of the democratic elections in Serbia and that whoever became president would have to represent Serbia as a whole - both those in favor of European integration and those opposed.

He dismissed speculation that Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolić would be more of service to Brussels as president than Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadić had been.

“We just cannot go into this,” said Kacin, recalling that back when Nikolić was a Serb Radical Party (SRS) leader he supported the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and thus allowed the process to get under way.

Commenting on Islamic Community in Serbia Chief Mufti Muamer Zukorlić's candidacy for president, he said every citizen of Serbia had the active and passive right to choose and be chosen.

“It is strange he is doing it in uniform, but since he has decided to run, I think the moment is nearing when he will take of his priest's uniform and move onto pure politics,” noted Kacin.