Tadić, Koštunica in new slanging match

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s letter has sparked a new war of words between Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and President Boris Tadic. In response to Ban’s letter concerning UNMIK reconfiguration, Tadic replied that the reorganization of the international presence in Kosovo should be decided on by the Security Council. Tadic, Kostunica in new slanging match Kostunica has now accused the president of overstepping his authorities by replying to Ban on his own initiative. The prime minister, it is stated, believes that the secretary-general’s proposal legalizes the EULEX mission. According to the Constitution, it is parliament that should adopt a position concerning Ban’s initiative, says Kostunica. Since the president is not constitutionally authorized to lead the country’s domestic and foreign policy, the Foreign and Kosovo Ministries of Vuk Jeremic and Slobodan Samardzic attempted to come to an agreement in the best interests of the country, he states. Since Tadic feels that the caretaker government does not have a mandate to decide about this, then, according to the Constitution, parliament should immediately adopt a position vis-a-vis the initiative to legalize the EULEX mission, says Kostunica. A reply from the president’s cabinet followed in which he dismissed the prime minister’s accusations as unfounded, stating that Kostunica was once again deceiving the citizens of Serbia, as was his wont. Tadic made his letter to Ban public, stating that it no way veered from united state policy on Kosovo, the president’s office reported. The president, speaking in Athens, said that a reorganization of the international presence in Kosovo was only possible in the UN Security Council, and that Serbia would never recognize Kosovo. Boris Tadic (FoNet, archive)

Tadić, Koštunica in new slanging match

Koštunica has now accused the president of overstepping his authorities by replying to Ban on his own initiative.

The prime minister, it is stated, believes that the secretary-general’s proposal legalizes the EULEX mission.

According to the Constitution, it is parliament that should adopt a position concerning Ban’s initiative, says Koštunica.

Since the president is not constitutionally authorized to lead the country’s domestic and foreign policy, the Foreign and Kosovo Ministries of Vuk Jeremić and Slobodan Samardžić attempted to come to an agreement in the best interests of the country, he states.

Since Tadić feels that the caretaker government does not have a mandate to decide about this, then, according to the Constitution, parliament should immediately adopt a position vis-a-vis the initiative to legalize the EULEX mission, says Koštunica.

A reply from the president’s cabinet followed in which he dismissed the prime minister’s accusations as unfounded, stating that Koštunica was once again deceiving the citizens of Serbia, as was his wont.

Tadić made his letter to Ban public, stating that it no way veered from united state policy on Kosovo, the president’s office reported.

The president, speaking in Athens, said that a reorganization of the international presence in Kosovo was only possible in the UN Security Council, and that Serbia would never recognize Kosovo.