Top SPS offiical "hopes" agreement is possible

BELGRADE Dusan Bajatovic says he is "neither pessimistic nor optimistic about the chances of reaching an agreement" in the upcoming round of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue". However, the deputy leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) added that the Serbian delegation should go to Brussels "with the hope that it is possible." Top SPS offiical "hopes" agreement is possible "Serbia rightfully expects to protect its people in Kosovo. The international community needs to know that Serbia will never formally recognize Kosovo's independence, and I do not think we should do it indirectly either by signing some documents," said Bajatovic. Serbia has shown it is willing to compromise and look for a solution which would be in the interest of Kosovo Serbs, Kosovo and Serbia, and would be sustainable in the long term, he said. Commenting on speculation that the outcome of the April 2 talks in Brussels might determine whether early elections will be called, Bajatovic, said a government reshuffle is more likely. "I cannot speculate whether there will be elections or not, but right now a government reshuffle seems more likely, and the important thing is that there are no disagreements between (Prime Minister) Ivica Dacic and (First Deputy Prime Minister) Aleksandar Vucic," Bajatovic told Tanjug. He says he does not foresee any major changes on the Serbian political scene even if elections are held. "The stakes are very high for all parties, both those in power and those in the opposition, but we need to understand that the stakes are highest for Serbia, because when elections are held, the country stops functioning for a year, and we are already in a very difficult situation, and not just when it comes to national issues related to Kosovo," warns Bajatovic. He believes the political instability could lead to a radicalization of the political scene, i.e. strengthening of the extreme left and right. Tanjug

Top SPS offiical "hopes" agreement is possible

"Serbia rightfully expects to protect its people in Kosovo. The international community needs to know that Serbia will never formally recognize Kosovo's independence, and I do not think we should do it indirectly either by signing some documents," said Bajatović.

Serbia has shown it is willing to compromise and look for a solution which would be in the interest of Kosovo Serbs, Kosovo and Serbia, and would be sustainable in the long term, he said.

Commenting on speculation that the outcome of the April 2 talks in Brussels might determine whether early elections will be called, Bajatović, said a government reshuffle is more likely.

"I cannot speculate whether there will be elections or not, but right now a government reshuffle seems more likely, and the important thing is that there are no disagreements between (Prime Minister) Ivica Dačić and (First Deputy Prime Minister) Aleksandar Vučić," Bajatović told Tanjug.

He says he does not foresee any major changes on the Serbian political scene even if elections are held.

"The stakes are very high for all parties, both those in power and those in the opposition, but we need to understand that the stakes are highest for Serbia, because when elections are held, the country stops functioning for a year, and we are already in a very difficult situation, and not just when it comes to national issues related to Kosovo," warns Bajatović.

He believes the political instability could lead to a radicalization of the political scene, i.e. strengthening of the extreme left and right.