Democrats, G17 Plus, demand gov't session

DS and G17 Plus ministers have decided to make a public appeal to PM Vojislav Kostunica to schedule a cabinet session. Serbian president and leader of the Democrats (DS) Boris Tadic and G17 Plus president Mladjan Dinkic met in Belgrade to discuss the next moves, after a hard day for Serbia's ruling coalition, made up of DS, DSS, NS and G17 Plus. Democrats, G17 Plus, demand gov't session B92 has learned that Tadic and Dinkic decided to demand that the session be held, in order to discuss a political deal the EU has offered Serbia Serbia. Kostunica earlier in the day said he would not schedule the government meeting. Tadic is also likely to meet tomorrow with the deputy leader of the Radicals (SRS), Tomislav Nikolic, also to discuss the situation in the country, the same sources said. Brussels has on Jan. 28 proposed to Serbia to accept the interim deal instead of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), and set the date for its signing for Feb. 7. But without the cabinet's approval, Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic (DS) will not be able to tavel to Brussles and sign the agreement. Kostunica's adviser Branislav Ristivojevic earlier Tuesday confirmed to reporters that the prime minister had decided that the regular Thursday meeting of the cabinet will not be held. Previously, his Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) managed to bring together a sufficient number of MPs from New Serbia, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the Serb Radical Party (SRS), who signed an official request to hold an urgent session of the parliament. When the request reached Speaker Oliver Dulic from the ranks of President Boris Tadic's Democrats (DS), he called for "consultations on scheduling the session" for Monday, Feb. 11. Kostunica reacted with his announcement that the government will not meet until the parliament does, confirming that the regular Thursday session has now been cancelled. The serious crisis of the DS-DSS-NS-G17 Plus ruling coalition now seems to be entering a vicious circle, since Dulic told reporters in parliament that, "as was previously the case," he intends to wait for the government to first offer its opinion on the parliament session initiative, before he conducts consultations with party whips. The core of the dispute between the government partners is whether Serbia should sign a political cooperation deal with the EU, even if the Union decides to send its mission to Kosovo, a move supported by the DS-G17 Plus but opposed by the DSS-NS. The European Union yesterday sent the text of the cooperation deal, put together instead of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), at the same time adopting plans for its mission to Kosovo which Belgrade, but also Moscow, dismiss as illegal. Brussels has denied Serbia the signing of the SAA at the end of January, citing Serbia's insufficient cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, offering the interim deal instead, and setting Feb.7 as the date for its signing. Earlier today, Kostunica requested the urgent parliament session, and said the lawmakers must meet "before Kosovo unilaterally declares independence", Tanjug news agency reported. "The parliament must convene in order to endorse necessary decisions on a planned European Union mission and the agreement offered by the EU to Serbia," he said. Although Kostunica's DSS is against the signing of the document in case Brussels goes ahead with its Kosovo mission plans, freshly re-elected President Boris Tadic and his Democrats said earlier they will force the cabinet to approve the deal. Today, the prime minister, who found himself in a difficult position after withholding support for Tadic in a re-election race that the incumbent eventually won Sunday, has formally requested that the parliament, rather than the cabinet, where he has no majority, make the decision. "The EU decision to illegally send a mission to Kosovo and Metohija in order to implement the rejected Ahtisaari's plan on independent Kosovo is a certain indication that Albanian separatists will very soon declare the province's independence unilaterally," Kostunica said in a statement carried by Tanjug. Such a move would directly threatened the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia, he added. "The decision to illegally send a mission means that, together with Albanian separatists, the EU creates, contrary to all principles of international law, a false Albanian state in the territory of Serbia," underscored Kostunica. "That is why the EU's proposal to sign a political agreement with Serbia while sending a mission to disintegrate our state is a deception aimed at getting Serbia's signature on the agreement with the EU, which, in fact, would mean that it agrees with Kosovo's independence, and it would make it the first state to directly recognize independent Kosovo," he warned. For this reason, Kostunica continued, the parliament must convene immediately, before unilateral independence of Kosovo is declared, to adopt necessary decisions on the EU mission and the agreement offered by Brussels. Kostunica, Tadic (FoNet, archive)

Democrats, G17 Plus, demand gov't session

B92 has learned that Tadić and Dinkić decided to demand that the session be held, in order to discuss a political deal the EU has offered Serbia Serbia. Koštunica earlier in the day said he would not schedule the government meeting.

Tadić is also likely to meet tomorrow with the deputy leader of the Radicals (SRS), Tomislav Nikolić, also to discuss the situation in the country, the same sources said.

Brussels has on Jan. 28 proposed to Serbia to accept the interim deal instead of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), and set the date for its signing for Feb. 7.

But without the cabinet's approval, Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić (DS) will not be able to tavel to Brussles and sign the agreement.

Koštunica's adviser Branislav Ristivojević earlier Tuesday confirmed to reporters that the prime minister had decided that the regular Thursday meeting of the cabinet will not be held.

Previously, his Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) managed to bring together a sufficient number of MPs from New Serbia, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the Serb Radical Party (SRS), who signed an official request to hold an urgent session of the parliament.

When the request reached Speaker Oliver Dulić from the ranks of President Boris Tadić's Democrats (DS), he called for "consultations on scheduling the session" for Monday, Feb. 11.

Koštunica reacted with his announcement that the government will not meet until the parliament does, confirming that the regular Thursday session has now been cancelled.

The serious crisis of the DS-DSS-NS-G17 Plus ruling coalition now seems to be entering a vicious circle, since Dulić told reporters in parliament that, "as was previously the case," he intends to wait for the government to first offer its opinion on the parliament session initiative, before he conducts consultations with party whips.

The core of the dispute between the government partners is whether Serbia should sign a political cooperation deal with the EU, even if the Union decides to send its mission to Kosovo, a move supported by the DS-G17 Plus but opposed by the DSS-NS.

The European Union yesterday sent the text of the cooperation deal, put together instead of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), at the same time adopting plans for its mission to Kosovo which Belgrade, but also Moscow, dismiss as illegal.

Brussels has denied Serbia the signing of the SAA at the end of January, citing Serbia's insufficient cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, offering the interim deal instead, and setting Feb.7 as the date for its signing.

Earlier today, Koštunica requested the urgent parliament session, and said the lawmakers must meet "before Kosovo unilaterally declares independence", Tanjug news agency reported.

"The parliament must convene in order to endorse necessary decisions on a planned European Union mission and the agreement offered by the EU to Serbia," he said.

Although Koštunica's DSS is against the signing of the document in case Brussels goes ahead with its Kosovo mission plans, freshly re-elected President Boris Tadić and his Democrats said earlier they will force the cabinet to approve the deal.

Today, the prime minister, who found himself in a difficult position after withholding support for Tadić in a re-election race that the incumbent eventually won Sunday, has formally requested that the parliament, rather than the cabinet, where he has no majority, make the decision.

"The EU decision to illegally send a mission to Kosovo and Metohija in order to implement the rejected Ahtisaari's plan on independent Kosovo is a certain indication that Albanian separatists will very soon declare the province's independence unilaterally," Koštunica said in a statement carried by Tanjug.

Such a move would directly threatened the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia, he added.

"The decision to illegally send a mission means that, together with Albanian separatists, the EU creates, contrary to all principles of international law, a false Albanian state in the territory of Serbia," underscored Koštunica.

"That is why the EU's proposal to sign a political agreement with Serbia while sending a mission to disintegrate our state is a deception aimed at getting Serbia's signature on the agreement with the EU, which, in fact, would mean that it agrees with Kosovo's independence, and it would make it the first state to directly recognize independent Kosovo," he warned.

For this reason, Koštunica continued, the parliament must convene immediately, before unilateral independence of Kosovo is declared, to adopt necessary decisions on the EU mission and the agreement offered by Brussels.