SRS, DSS, SPS edging closer to govt. deal

SPS and SRS officials said this evening that a deal on the principles that will represent a platform for the the new cabinet's work has been reached. If the parties now negotiating manage to reach a definitive agreement, the government will be made up of the Radicals (SRS), the Democratic Party of Serbia-New Serbia (DSS-NS) coalition, and the coalition gathered around the Socialists (SPS), which also includes the Associated Pensioners Party (PUPS) and United Serbia (NS). SRS, DSS, SPS edging closer to govt. deal SPS president Ivica Dacic said after the meeting today in Belgrade that an agreement on the principles that will guide the next government has been reached. The negotiations took place after his party's presidency met and authorized him to conduct the talks. The Radicals, and the DSS-NS coalition, Dacic said, have accepted to add the social justice principle into the future cabinet's platform, and added that the talks will continue Friday. One of SRS deputy presidents Gordana Pop Lazic confirmed this for reporters, and also said that there is "a big chance that the parliamentary majority will soon be achieved". The DSS said in a statement tonight that the government currently negotiated would also include the Bosniak List from Sandzak and non-partisan figures who are advocating a policy of preservation of Serbia's national interests. Previously, the Bosnian List officials confirmed they were not talking to Boris Tadic's Democrats (DS) and their coalition. Earlier in the day, the SPS presidency convened in Belgrade to unanimously adopt five principles that would guide leader Ivica Dacic in the cabinet negotiations. Party spokesman Djordje Milicevic confirmed this for the reporters after the meeting, and explained that the principles are defense of state and national interests, social justice, European integrations, economic development, and fight against corruption and crime. "If we achieve consensus on these principles, we will continue talks [with the DSS-NS and SRS] in order to sign a coalition agreement. Whether we in fact do sign it will become obvious once we reach agreement on the unanimously adopted principles," Milicevic was quoted. He also added the Socialists believe the new ruling coalition agreement "must be signed" before the new parliament convenes for its first session, and before new speaker is elected. Asked whether the SPS will also talk to the Democratic Party (DS) and their pre-election coalition, Milicevic reminded his party said earlier they will negotiate with the DSS first, "which is what we are now doing". "SPS leader Ivica Dacic has been authorized to conduct talks on these principles," the SPS spokesman said, and added, "we'll see how the talks conclude". After the party presidency finished its session, the leaders of the Socialists' coalition partners, Jovan Krkobabic (PUPS) and Dragan Markovic, a.k.a. Palma (JS) were seen entering the premises. Also today, Dacic said that talks with the DSS over the formation of a new government would continue. “The job will be only be finished once the coalition agreement has been finalized, which will be decided on by the SPS executive board when the time comes,” Dacic told reporters ahead of a meeting of the SPS presidency. He said that the same was true for the talks regarding the Belgrade local government. Dacic said that Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica was expected to schedule a meeting between the SPS and the Serb Radical Party. "We have certain annexes. There are few differences between our principles and those proposed, though we think that principles regarding social justice need to be added,” Dacic said, adding that once this was done, talks regarding the formation of a parliamentary majority could begin. Asked whether the SPS would negotiate with the Democratic Party (DS), Dacic said that "the SPS is now talking to the DSS," because they had announced earlier that they would be meeting with Kostunica first. The kingmaker trio: Krkobabic, Dacic, Markovic (FoNet) Ilic: No marathon negotiations Meanwhile, New Serbia (NS) President Velimir Ilic said that he believed that the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-NS coalition would be able to reach an agreement with the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition over forming a new government. “The final talks are on Thursday. We won't allow marathon negotiations; we do not want to waste time. We want things to be clear right away, to know where we stand—do we have an government with the SRS and SPS-PUPS-JS or not,” Ilic said, after attending talks with leaders of the SPS-led coalition. He said that the talks had been conducted in a fair atmosphere, adding that SPS leader Ivica Dacic’s demand for social policies to be one of the principles of the government’s work had been approved. Ilic did not want to say how optimistic he was that the SPS would agree to form a government with the DSS-NS and the Serb Radical Party (SRS). “We will see. We have no experience in talks with SPS, so I cannot make any predictions, but I think everything will turn out fine,” he said. Tadic: Open for talks with SPS Also Wednesday, Serbian President and Democrati Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic said he was to open talks with the SPS "because they shared the same ideology as the Democrats". The “For a European Serbia” ticket, gathered around the DS and consisting of four other parties, was beginning talks with the SPS-Associated Pensioners’ Party (PUPS)-United Serbia (JS) coalition, "and at this particular moment in time there was no talk of ministerial portfolios, rather the possibility of creating normal partnership relations was being discussed", said Tadic. According to the president, both parties advocated a society that had the capacity to take care of its most vulnerable members, and in which no-one would be rejected or forgotten. “We advocate a society that, economically, develops evenly, and increases its capacities to defend Kosovo. I think a further dimension to this cooperation exists that is by no means insignificant. The conditions would be created for, on the one hand, the standard of living to be enhanced, and on the other, to begin a process of historical reconciliation,“ he said. “From a historical perspective, Serbia is weighed down by numerous divisions that have conditioned events in both our late and more recent history. This campaign has shown that neither the Democratic Party (DS) nor the SPS wants anyone to label citizens as ’traitors’ or ’enemies’, or to call for those with different views to be lynched. We wish to rid political life of the language of hate, and to get down to serious work, to solve the problems of the country and its citizens,“ Tadic stressed. Daily: Dacic potential deputy PM Daily Blic writes that the Democratic Party (DS) and the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition are close to reaching an agreement on forming the new government. The daily states that the DS has offered the position of deputy prime minister to Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic. It adds that another senior SPS official, Milutin Mrkonjic, has been offered the Capital Investments Ministry. However, the daily states that Dacic’s condition for cooperating with the Democrats is the rehabilitation of Slobodan Milosevic’s family. The SPS leader is calling for the request sent to Russia for Milosevic’s wife and son's extradition to be dropped, Blic writes. The DS’s response is that SPS would then have to agree to cooperate fully with the Hague Tribunal, writes the daily.

SRS, DSS, SPS edging closer to govt. deal

SPS president Ivica Dačić said after the meeting today in Belgrade that an agreement on the principles that will guide the next government has been reached.

The negotiations took place after his party's presidency met and authorized him to conduct the talks.

The Radicals, and the DSS-NS coalition, Dačić said, have accepted to add the social justice principle into the future cabinet's platform, and added that the talks will continue Friday.

One of SRS deputy presidents Gordana Pop Lazić confirmed this for reporters, and also said that there is "a big chance that the parliamentary majority will soon be achieved".

The DSS said in a statement tonight that the government currently negotiated would also include the Bosniak List from Sandžak and non-partisan figures who are advocating a policy of preservation of Serbia's national interests.

Previously, the Bosnian List officials confirmed they were not talking to Boris Tadić's Democrats (DS) and their coalition.

Earlier in the day, the SPS presidency convened in Belgrade to unanimously adopt five principles that would guide leader Ivica Dačić in the cabinet negotiations.

Party spokesman Đorđe Milićević confirmed this for the reporters after the meeting, and explained that the principles are defense of state and national interests, social justice, European integrations, economic development, and fight against corruption and crime.

"If we achieve consensus on these principles, we will continue talks [with the DSS-NS and SRS] in order to sign a coalition agreement. Whether we in fact do sign it will become obvious once we reach agreement on the unanimously adopted principles," Milićević was quoted.

He also added the Socialists believe the new ruling coalition agreement "must be signed" before the new parliament convenes for its first session, and before new speaker is elected.

Asked whether the SPS will also talk to the Democratic Party (DS) and their pre-election coalition, Milićević reminded his party said earlier they will negotiate with the DSS first, "which is what we are now doing".

"SPS leader Ivica Dačić has been authorized to conduct talks on these principles," the SPS spokesman said, and added, "we'll see how the talks conclude".

After the party presidency finished its session, the leaders of the Socialists' coalition partners, Jovan Krkobabić (PUPS) and Dragan Marković, a.k.a. Palma (JS) were seen entering the premises.

Also today, Dačić said that talks with the DSS over the formation of a new government would continue.

“The job will be only be finished once the coalition agreement has been finalized, which will be decided on by the SPS executive board when the time comes,” Dačić told reporters ahead of a meeting of the SPS presidency.

He said that the same was true for the talks regarding the Belgrade local government.

Dačić said that Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Koštunica was expected to schedule a meeting between the SPS and the Serb Radical Party.

"We have certain annexes. There are few differences between our principles and those proposed, though we think that principles regarding social justice need to be added,” Dačić said, adding that once this was done, talks regarding the formation of a parliamentary majority could begin.

Asked whether the SPS would negotiate with the Democratic Party (DS), Dačić said that "the SPS is now talking to the DSS," because they had announced earlier that they would be meeting with Koštunica first.

Ilić: No marathon negotiations

Meanwhile, New Serbia (NS) President Velimir Ilić said that he believed that the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-NS coalition would be able to reach an agreement with the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition over forming a new government.

“The final talks are on Thursday. We won't allow marathon negotiations; we do not want to waste time. We want things to be clear right away, to know where we stand—do we have an government with the SRS and SPS-PUPS-JS or not,” Ilić said, after attending talks with leaders of the SPS-led coalition.

He said that the talks had been conducted in a fair atmosphere, adding that SPS leader Ivica Dačić’s demand for social policies to be one of the principles of the government’s work had been approved.

Ilić did not want to say how optimistic he was that the SPS would agree to form a government with the DSS-NS and the Serb Radical Party (SRS).

“We will see. We have no experience in talks with SPS, so I cannot make any predictions, but I think everything will turn out fine,” he said.

Tadić: Open for talks with SPS

Also Wednesday, Serbian President and Democrati Party (DS) leader Boris Tadić said he was to open talks with the SPS "because they shared the same ideology as the Democrats".

The “For a European Serbia” ticket, gathered around the DS and consisting of four other parties, was beginning talks with the SPS-Associated Pensioners’ Party (PUPS)-United Serbia (JS) coalition, "and at this particular moment in time there was no talk of ministerial portfolios, rather the possibility of creating normal partnership relations was being discussed", said Tadić.

According to the president, both parties advocated a society that had the capacity to take care of its most vulnerable members, and in which no-one would be rejected or forgotten.

“We advocate a society that, economically, develops evenly, and increases its capacities to defend Kosovo. I think a further dimension to this cooperation exists that is by no means insignificant. The conditions would be created for, on the one hand, the standard of living to be enhanced, and on the other, to begin a process of historical reconciliation,“ he said.

“From a historical perspective, Serbia is weighed down by numerous divisions that have conditioned events in both our late and more recent history. This campaign has shown that neither the Democratic Party (DS) nor the SPS wants anyone to label citizens as ’traitors’ or ’enemies’, or to call for those with different views to be lynched. We wish to rid political life of the language of hate, and to get down to serious work, to solve the problems of the country and its citizens,“ Tadić stressed.

Daily: Dačić potential deputy PM

Daily Blic writes that the Democratic Party (DS) and the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition are close to reaching an agreement on forming the new government.

The daily states that the DS has offered the position of deputy prime minister to Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dačić. It adds that another senior SPS official, Milutin Mrkonjić, has been offered the Capital Investments Ministry.

However, the daily states that Dačić’s condition for cooperating with the Democrats is the rehabilitation of Slobodan Milošević’s family.

The SPS leader is calling for the request sent to Russia for Milošević’s wife and son's extradition to be dropped, Blic writes.

The DS’s response is that SPS would then have to agree to cooperate fully with the Hague Tribunal, writes the daily.