Solana: EU wants strong govt. in Belgrade

EIU foreign ministry chief Javier Solana says Brussels "wants the Serbian political parties to form a strong and stable government". “At this point I can say that we would like to see a strong coalition, because it is better to cooperate with a strong government, if we want Serbia's fast progress towards the EU,” he said, when asked about what he thought about a coalition that would include the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). Solana: EU wants strong govt. in Belgrade Solana also said that Serbia will be better able to complete its international obligations with a strong government, such as the needed condition of completing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Slovenian media stated. British Ambassador in Serbia Stephen Wordsworth, in the meantime, said that his country strongly supports the pro-European message sent by the Serbian voters in the Sunday elections, adding that he hopes that the Serbian politicians will respect the decision of the voters. Regarding the possibility of the Socialists' participation in the new government, he told Beta news agency that "the SPS does not have to continue to forever exist as the ‘'Milosevic party’”. “All around central and eastern Europe political parties and their leaders have changed just as the circumstances have changed,” the ambassador said. He said that "in Serbian politics there is room for a Socialist party that fights strongly for the rights of the vulnerable category of the population – the unemployed, elderly, people with small earnings – but that it can be, at the same time, "modern, pro-European and dedicated to the rule of law.” Speaking of the vote over the weekend, he said it was "obvious that these were very important elections which came as a result of disagreements within the previous ruling coalition.” Javier Solana (FoNet, archive) Jansa congratulates Tadic Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa has congratulated Serbian President Boris Tadic on the most votes the coalition led by his Democrats (DS) has won in the Serbian elections last Sunday. In a telephone converstation, the Slovenian prime minister and the Serbian president said that "the EU support for the foreign policy aims of the coalition gave a clear signal to Serbian voters, who predominantly voted for a European perspective of their country". Jansa assured Tadic that he will "support the strivings of the Serbian leadership to continue reforms in order to fulfill European standards and bring Serbia closer to the EU", the Slovenian prime minister's website said.

Solana: EU wants strong govt. in Belgrade

Solana also said that Serbia will be better able to complete its international obligations with a strong government, such as the needed condition of completing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Slovenian media stated.

British Ambassador in Serbia Stephen Wordsworth, in the meantime, said that his country strongly supports the pro-European message sent by the Serbian voters in the Sunday elections, adding that he hopes that the Serbian politicians will respect the decision of the voters.

Regarding the possibility of the Socialists' participation in the new government, he told Beta news agency that "the SPS does not have to continue to forever exist as the ‘'Milošević party’”.

“All around central and eastern Europe political parties and their leaders have changed just as the circumstances have changed,” the ambassador said.

He said that "in Serbian politics there is room for a Socialist party that fights strongly for the rights of the vulnerable category of the population – the unemployed, elderly, people with small earnings – but that it can be, at the same time, "modern, pro-European and dedicated to the rule of law.”

Speaking of the vote over the weekend, he said it was "obvious that these were very important elections which came as a result of disagreements within the previous ruling coalition.”

Janša congratulates Tadić

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša has congratulated Serbian President Boris Tadić on the most votes the coalition led by his Democrats (DS) has won in the Serbian elections last Sunday.

In a telephone converstation, the Slovenian prime minister and the Serbian president said that "the EU support for the foreign policy aims of the coalition gave a clear signal to Serbian voters, who predominantly voted for a European perspective of their country".

Janša assured Tadić that he will "support the strivings of the Serbian leadership to continue reforms in order to fulfill European standards and bring Serbia closer to the EU", the Slovenian prime minister's website said.