DSS, NS, Radicals react to SPS decision

The Radicals (SRS) and the DSS-NS coalition say they were not surprised at the announcement yesterday that the Socialists were ending the cabinet talks. Both political groups say the guilty party for the failure of negotiations to put together a ruling coalition are the Socialists (SPS), and add that leader Ivica Dacic was talking to them and the DS-led coalition at the same time. DSS, NS, Radicals react to SPS decision The Radicals and the DSS also say the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and the issue of pensions had nothing to do with the Socialists' decision to break off the talks. SRS deputy president Tomislav Nikolic said last night that any coalition between the Democrats' "For a European Serbia" election ticket and the SPS-led coalition of three parties is in fact "a coalition against Serbia". He told Tanjug news agency that the talks with the Socialists were "doomed to failure", and ruled out any future cooperation with the late Slobodan Milosevic's party. "Right after the first consultations and negotiations that we had I realized that Dacic, representing his coalition of some sort, was in fact stringing along the People's Coalition [DSS-NS], biding his time, or a good excuse to announce he is going with the DS and destroying everything that the SPS name stands for," Nikolic said. The deputy leader of the Radicals emphasized that the SRS, the largest single party in the new parliament, "will continue to fight" and that its destiny is "to win alone". "This is a coalition against the SRS, and this time against the DSS too," he said of the possible SPS-DS ruling majority. "Each time they make a coalition against us, they in fact make it against Serbia". New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic also commented on the developments last night to say that the announcement from the Socialists was "long expected", and added that their negotiations with the DSS-NS and the Radicals served only to prepare the public for "an unnatural coalition". "Ivica Dacic planned this a long time ago, before the elections, even during the presidential elections. This was all sham, a preparation of the public to accept something that is unnatural and in complete breach of all agreements and projects that were ongoing in Serbia," Ilic told the news agency. "I'm sorry that the SPS has fooled citizens, their voters, and tricked Serbia, because the majority has voted for the national option, for the EU but with a whole Serbia, with Kosovo and Metohija," he continued. "Investments promised in the campaign are not happening and Serbia is now looking at a period of stagnation," Ilic, the infrastructure minister in the caretaker cabinet, said. Meanwhile, DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenovic also reacted to the news. He told Beta news agency that "governments that are made in secret meetings and under the influence of tycoons and foreign ambassadors can bring no good to Serbia". Mladenovic added that the DSS will now go to the opposition where the party will consistently fight for its principles and preservation of Serbia's national interests.

DSS, NS, Radicals react to SPS decision

The Radicals and the DSS also say the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and the issue of pensions had nothing to do with the Socialists' decision to break off the talks.

SRS deputy president Tomislav Nikolić said last night that any coalition between the Democrats' "For a European Serbia" election ticket and the SPS-led coalition of three parties is in fact "a coalition against Serbia".

He told Tanjug news agency that the talks with the Socialists were "doomed to failure", and ruled out any future cooperation with the late Slobodan Milošević's party.

"Right after the first consultations and negotiations that we had I realized that Dačić, representing his coalition of some sort, was in fact stringing along the People's Coalition [DSS-NS], biding his time, or a good excuse to announce he is going with the DS and destroying everything that the SPS name stands for," Nikolić said.

The deputy leader of the Radicals emphasized that the SRS, the largest single party in the new parliament, "will continue to fight" and that its destiny is "to win alone".

"This is a coalition against the SRS, and this time against the DSS too," he said of the possible SPS-DS ruling majority. "Each time they make a coalition against us, they in fact make it against Serbia".

New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilić also commented on the developments last night to say that the announcement from the Socialists was "long expected", and added that their negotiations with the DSS-NS and the Radicals served only to prepare the public for "an unnatural coalition".

"Ivica Dačić planned this a long time ago, before the elections, even during the presidential elections. This was all sham, a preparation of the public to accept something that is unnatural and in complete breach of all agreements and projects that were ongoing in Serbia," Ilić told the news agency.

"I'm sorry that the SPS has fooled citizens, their voters, and tricked Serbia, because the majority has voted for the national option, for the EU but with a whole Serbia, with Kosovo and Metohija," he continued.

"Investments promised in the campaign are not happening and Serbia is now looking at a period of stagnation," Ilić, the infrastructure minister in the caretaker cabinet, said.

Meanwhile, DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenović also reacted to the news.

He told Beta news agency that "governments that are made in secret meetings and under the influence of tycoons and foreign ambassadors can bring no good to Serbia".

Mladenović added that the DSS will now go to the opposition where the party will consistently fight for its principles and preservation of Serbia's national interests.