Opposition DS and LDP parties "to intensify cooperation"

BELGRADE The Democratic Party (DS) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have agreed to intensify their parliamentary cooperation. After a meeting of their leaders in Belgrade on Monday afternoon, they also announced that they could form a single party, "if the DS and LDP members ask for that." Opposition DS and LDP parties "to intensify cooperation" The LDP and DS leaders, Cedomir Jovanovic and Dragan Djilas told reporters after their meeting that they agreed to hold joint sessions of the two parties’ presidencies, to jointly lobby in Brussels for stepping up Serbia’s European integration and to create a joint economic program that would offer answers to the economic crisis since, in their opinion, the government does not have the capacity to do that. Jovanovic, who was the host of the meeting, said it is necessary to strike a balance on the political scene and it calls for the cooperation between the DS and LDP. “We want the members of the two parties to say if they are ready to join efforts to build a political organization that would address problems faced by Serbia effectively,” Jovanovic said. Asked if this means that they announcing the formation of a new coalition or a new party, Jovanovic said that it is not about a “fusion” or creating a strong party for fear of next elections, but rather about the need for a balance of political power in the country. Djilas said that that it is essential that the two parties cooperate to solve problems faced by society, something far more important for the citizens of Serbia than to know if the cooperation between the parties will result in the creation of a new party. “We expect joint meeting of the parties’ presidencies to take place soon and these to be processes that will lead to the two parties becoming an alternative to the powers that be. How the process will end up is less important. It is much more important that the people see there are parties on the political scene that are ready to offer answers and be an alternative to the current government,” said Djilas. The LDP and DS leaders said that DS whip in the Serbian parliament Borislav Stefanovic and LDP MP and deputy leader Bojan Djuric will be drawing up a framework for the two parties’ cooperation over the next two months. Djilas and Jovanovic agreed that it is essential that the major political parties are working to overcome the problems in the country, a prerequisite to end “the political persecution and revanchism that are taking place.” The LDP and DS are ready to support the policy of fight against corruption and crime, Jovanovic said, stressing that he cannot agree with the opinion that the Democratic Party is responsible for everything that is bad in Serbia. Asked if the two parties will participate together in the upcoming local elections in Belgrade's municipality of Vozzdovac, the DS and LDP leaders said that the preparations for the elections have already reached an advanced stage of development, but they did not rule out the possibility of this kind of cooperation in early elections in Belgrade and possible early parliamentary elections. (Tanjug) Tanjug

Opposition DS and LDP parties "to intensify cooperation"

The LDP and DS leaders, Čedomir Jovanović and Dragan Đilas told reporters after their meeting that they agreed to hold joint sessions of the two parties’ presidencies, to jointly lobby in Brussels for stepping up Serbia’s European integration and to create a joint economic program that would offer answers to the economic crisis since, in their opinion, the government does not have the capacity to do that.

Jovanović, who was the host of the meeting, said it is necessary to strike a balance on the political scene and it calls for the cooperation between the DS and LDP.

“We want the members of the two parties to say if they are ready to join efforts to build a political organization that would address problems faced by Serbia effectively,” Jovanović said.

Asked if this means that they announcing the formation of a new coalition or a new party, Jovanović said that it is not about a “fusion” or creating a strong party for fear of next elections, but rather about the need for a balance of political power in the country.

Đilas said that that it is essential that the two parties cooperate to solve problems faced by society, something far more important for the citizens of Serbia than to know if the cooperation between the parties will result in the creation of a new party.

“We expect joint meeting of the parties’ presidencies to take place soon and these to be processes that will lead to the two parties becoming an alternative to the powers that be. How the process will end up is less important. It is much more important that the people see there are parties on the political scene that are ready to offer answers and be an alternative to the current government,” said Đilas.

The LDP and DS leaders said that DS whip in the Serbian parliament Borislav Stefanović and LDP MP and deputy leader Bojan Đurić will be drawing up a framework for the two parties’ cooperation over the next two months.

Đilas and Jovanović agreed that it is essential that the major political parties are working to overcome the problems in the country, a prerequisite to end “the political persecution and revanchism that are taking place.”

The LDP and DS are ready to support the policy of fight against corruption and crime, Jovanović said, stressing that he cannot agree with the opinion that the Democratic Party is responsible for everything that is bad in Serbia.

Asked if the two parties will participate together in the upcoming local elections in Belgrade's municipality of Vožzdovac, the DS and LDP leaders said that the preparations for the elections have already reached an advanced stage of development, but they did not rule out the possibility of this kind of cooperation in early elections in Belgrade and possible early parliamentary elections.