DS, SPS leaders announce "intensified talks"

Leaders of pre-election coalitions gathered around the Socialists (SPS) and the Democrats (DS) met in Belgrade on Friday afternoon. SPS leader Ivica Dacic said after the talks with DS leader Boris Tadic that they "agreed to continue and intensify the talks in order to form a government as soon as possible". DS, SPS leaders announce "intensified talks" He told Tanjug news agency that the conversation today focused on "forming a parliamentary majority, based on an agreement reached earlier about the government structure and goals". "Our coalition (SPS-PUPS-JS) has agreed a long time ago that - if a government is formed with the DS as the largest party - the prime minister should come from that party, DS President Boris Tadic, and we have not, and will not change that stance," Dacic said. United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan "Palma" Markovic also attended the meeting on Friday afternoon, and said afterwards its topic was "the economic program", and that the talks would continue next week. "It's not very easy to form a government," Markovic noted, but did not wish to make any further statement. Speaking for B92, one of the SPS vice-presidents, Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, was no more concrete: "The talks are being intensified and I sincerely hope that soon we will have a parliamentary majority. We have agreed to try for our coalition to make a parliamentary majority with the coalition around the DS, and I sincerely hope we will reach a deal. Today, we concluded that if these talks fail, we will talk to others, but before we possibly put an end to these talks we will not - as you are aware - officially start negotiations or talks with anyone else." A file photo of Dacic and Tadic addressing reporters (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

DS, SPS leaders announce "intensified talks"

He told Tanjug news agency that the conversation today focused on "forming a parliamentary majority, based on an agreement reached earlier about the government structure and goals".

"Our coalition (SPS-PUPS-JS) has agreed a long time ago that - if a government is formed with the DS as the largest party - the prime minister should come from that party, DS President Boris Tadić, and we have not, and will not change that stance," Dačić said.

United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan "Palma" Marković also attended the meeting on Friday afternoon, and said afterwards its topic was "the economic program", and that the talks would continue next week.

"It's not very easy to form a government," Marković noted, but did not wish to make any further statement.

Speaking for B92, one of the SPS vice-presidents, Slavica Đukić-Dejanović, was no more concrete:

"The talks are being intensified and I sincerely hope that soon we will have a parliamentary majority. We have agreed to try for our coalition to make a parliamentary majority with the coalition around the DS, and I sincerely hope we will reach a deal. Today, we concluded that if these talks fail, we will talk to others, but before we possibly put an end to these talks we will not - as you are aware - officially start negotiations or talks with anyone else."