Socialists set for "talks with Koštunica first"

The leader of the Socialists (SPS) Ivica Dacic says the coalition led by his party will negotiate joining a new government with Vojislav Kostunica first. Although the party is not expected to make significant gains, the parliament seats it looks set to win could give it the power to tip the scales in favor of either the DS-led coalition, or the increasingly likely post-election alliance between the Radicals (SRS) and Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-New Serbia (NS) coalition. Socialists set for "talks with Kostunica first" "We will not support – we have no reason to support anyone's minority government, and if someone wishes to talk to us, they will have to respect certain principles," Dacic said in an interview for FoNet news agency. These principles, he reminded, include preservation of Kosovo within Serbia, return of constitutional rights to the Serbs in Croatia, preservation of the Dayton agreement, and establishment of a system of social justice in the country. "We will insist on amendments to the Labor, Pension and Disability Insurance Law, as well as those related to health insurance and education. All for Serbia, but Serbia must be just to all. These will be our conditions to form the next government. These political principles are more important that any government portfolio or director's seat [in public companies]," Dacic stressed. He added that "for the time being", there was no cooperation with Boris Tadic's Democrats (DS), and dubbed any coalition agreement that would includ Cedomir Jovanovic, Nenad Canak and Vuk Draskovic "impossible". The Democrats have ruled out post-election deals with the Radicals, but not with the Socialists. Now the leader of the party formed and led for over a decade by Slobodan Milosevic says its priority is to negotiate with the DSS first in order to define the manner in which the new parliamentary majority will be made. "Without an agreement of our two coalitions, there will be no majority in the parliament", Dacic said. The Socialists have teamed up with PUPS, a pensioners' party, and United Serbia, JS, in a pre-election coalition. He also said the new cabinet and parliament will decide on the ratification of the recently signed Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), but that its annulment "cannot be discussed". "Our party and coalition believe that Serbia should join the EU, however, no one has the right to take Serbia there without knowing if we are going with or without Kosovo," Dacic said today. The Socialists, he continued, are against any extraditions of Serbian nationals to the Hague Tribunal, "but favor cooperation with this court if it is voluntary". Dacic interviewed by FoNet (FoNet)

Socialists set for "talks with Koštunica first"

"We will not support – we have no reason to support anyone's minority government, and if someone wishes to talk to us, they will have to respect certain principles," Dačić said in an interview for FoNet news agency.

These principles, he reminded, include preservation of Kosovo within Serbia, return of constitutional rights to the Serbs in Croatia, preservation of the Dayton agreement, and establishment of a system of social justice in the country.

"We will insist on amendments to the Labor, Pension and Disability Insurance Law, as well as those related to health insurance and education. All for Serbia, but Serbia must be just to all. These will be our conditions to form the next government. These political principles are more important that any government portfolio or director's seat [in public companies]," Dačić stressed.

He added that "for the time being", there was no cooperation with Boris Tadić's Democrats (DS), and dubbed any coalition agreement that would includ Čedomir Jovanović, Nenad Čanak and Vuk Drašković "impossible".

The Democrats have ruled out post-election deals with the Radicals, but not with the Socialists.

Now the leader of the party formed and led for over a decade by Slobodan Milošević says its priority is to negotiate with the DSS first in order to define the manner in which the new parliamentary majority will be made.

"Without an agreement of our two coalitions, there will be no majority in the parliament", Dačić said. The Socialists have teamed up with PUPS, a pensioners' party, and United Serbia, JS, in a pre-election coalition.

He also said the new cabinet and parliament will decide on the ratification of the recently signed Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), but that its annulment "cannot be discussed".

"Our party and coalition believe that Serbia should join the EU, however, no one has the right to take Serbia there without knowing if we are going with or without Kosovo," Dačić said today.

The Socialists, he continued, are against any extraditions of Serbian nationals to the Hague Tribunal, "but favor cooperation with this court if it is voluntary".