DS official rejects offer to be new FM

BELGRADE Democratic Party (DS) member Milica Delevic has rejected Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) acting leader Aleksandar Vucic’s offer to join the new government. “The decision on my participation in the government cannot be personal because I am a DS member,” she explained. DS official rejects offer to be new FM After late Wednesday's session of the DS Presidency, the party stated that every individual has the right to decide what to do in life and politics, but that it would not be logical for a DS official to take part in a government the party did not support. Delevic noted that an offer to an opposition party member to join the government was unusual but stressed that circumstances in Serbia were unusual as well. “Just like in 2008, the strength to respond to difficult challenges is being tested but also the ability to overcome deep divisions in the country that were created during the 90s and the policy it led us to them,” she told Tanjug. Delevic believes that the offer was made out of honest motives in order for the country to make speedier and more efficient progress in the process of EU integration. “The new government's results will show whether this offer was made so as to deal with the challenges of Serbia's foreign policy more efficiently and move toward Europe more quickly, in which I believe, or to divide the DS and make international partners happy in the short term,” she pointed out. “Time will tell what will be the DS' position on what the new government will do to move closer to the EU,” Delevic added. “I believe, and I will work on it as a member of the party, that it will be a constructive position if the steps are as brave as the decision to offer an important position to somebody from the opposition,” she said. According to her, only such stance of the government and the DS is in the best interest of the citizens. DS Executive Board President Marko Djurisic said that the SDPS leader was free to decide to join the government but that he could not get the DS’ support for it. He explained that the party’s position on Delevic was the same as on all other members, adding that every individual had the right to decide what to do. “As far as DS officials are concerned, it is not exactly logical for them to take part in the government which is being formed now,” Djurisic concluded. Milica Delevic (file) “Democrats put their interests above state, citizens” Vucic has stated he was sorry to hear that Delevic did not accept his offer and added that the Democrats have showed that interests of the party are more important to them than interests of the state and citizens. He told a press conference that the SNS highly appreciated Delevic’s work and that the Progressives’ only intention when they offered her a position in the government, was the state’s wellbeing. “For us, Serbia and its citizens are much more important than the interest of the party and that was our intention,” the SNS acting leader stressed. He pointed out that the government would be formed between July 24 and July 26 and that Social-Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) leader Rasim Ljajic and Party of Democratic Action of Sandzak leader Sulejman Ugljanin would be a part of it. Vucic said that a wide support for the new government had therefore been secured, adding that it was important because of the changes and reforms that the government was planning on implementing and because of the relations with ethnic minorities. Tanjug

DS official rejects offer to be new FM

After late Wednesday's session of the DS Presidency, the party stated that every individual has the right to decide what to do in life and politics, but that it would not be logical for a DS official to take part in a government the party did not support.

Delević noted that an offer to an opposition party member to join the government was unusual but stressed that circumstances in Serbia were unusual as well.

“Just like in 2008, the strength to respond to difficult challenges is being tested but also the ability to overcome deep divisions in the country that were created during the 90s and the policy it led us to them,” she told Tanjug.

Delević believes that the offer was made out of honest motives in order for the country to make speedier and more efficient progress in the process of EU integration.

“The new government's results will show whether this offer was made so as to deal with the challenges of Serbia's foreign policy more efficiently and move toward Europe more quickly, in which I believe, or to divide the DS and make international partners happy in the short term,” she pointed out.

“Time will tell what will be the DS' position on what the new government will do to move closer to the EU,” Delevic added.

“I believe, and I will work on it as a member of the party, that it will be a constructive position if the steps are as brave as the decision to offer an important position to somebody from the opposition,” she said.

According to her, only such stance of the government and the DS is in the best interest of the citizens.

DS Executive Board President Marko Đurišić said that the SDPS leader was free to decide to join the government but that he could not get the DS’ support for it.

He explained that the party’s position on Delević was the same as on all other members, adding that every individual had the right to decide what to do.

“As far as DS officials are concerned, it is not exactly logical for them to take part in the government which is being formed now,” Đurišić concluded.

“Democrats put their interests above state, citizens”

Vučić has stated he was sorry to hear that Delević did not accept his offer and added that the Democrats have showed that interests of the party are more important to them than interests of the state and citizens.

He told a press conference that the SNS highly appreciated Delević’s work and that the Progressives’ only intention when they offered her a position in the government, was the state’s wellbeing.

“For us, Serbia and its citizens are much more important than the interest of the party and that was our intention,” the SNS acting leader stressed.

He pointed out that the government would be formed between July 24 and July 26 and that Social-Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) leader Rasim Ljajić and Party of Democratic Action of Sandžak leader Sulejman Ugljanin would be a part of it.

Vučić said that a wide support for the new government had therefore been secured, adding that it was important because of the changes and reforms that the government was planning on implementing and because of the relations with ethnic minorities.