Provincial govt. "has essentially collapsed"

Provincial govt. "has essentially collapsed"

Pasztor has expressed his satisfaction with the meeting and urged those that did not take part in the conversation today to join future negotiations in order to resolve the crisis in Vojvodina.

"The meeting was a success because of the atmosphere, the conclusions, the responsibility. Everybody agreed that the problem can be solved only through political dialogue, with the ambition of seeking a common solution," he told a news conference in Novi Sad.

The meeting, initiated by Pasztor in order to resolve the question of the functioning of the provincial government, was attended by representatives of the opposition in the provincial assembly - the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), a coalition centered around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Serb Radical Party (SRS).

Pasztor said that the meeting proposed formation of a government that would be made up of all political parties, and also looked into "some other opportunities," while participants agreed to continue their conversation in ten days.

He said that after the meeting, he had contact with a representative of the DS and expected this party, the LSV, and the NDS, to join the discussion.

He added that he had invited DS assembly group chief Borislav Novaković to a meeting, and when asked whether he would also invite officials of the LSV and the NDS holding the same position, Pasztor said he would not. When asked why, he replied, "because."

Previously, the three parties announced they would not be able to send their representatives to Tuesday's meeting. The DS and the LSV cited "previous engagements," while the NDS announced they would be holding a presidency meeting.

The majority in the assembly of Vojvodina is currently made up of a coalition that includes the DS, the LSV and the League of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM).

After the meeting today, vice-presidents of the SNS and the SPS - opposition parties in the assembly in Novi Sad that are partners in the ruling coalition on the state level - said the gathering represented "more proof that the provincial government had fallen."

Igor Mirović (SNS) told reporters that it was "clear that the provincial government does not have the essential capacity to manage public affairs."

"In essence, the provincial government has collapsed, and it is important to open a dialogue to overcome the crisis," said Mirović.

According to him, the SNS is willing ready for compromise, and election of a new government.

Mirović reiterated that the province "did not need early elections because Serbia is facing a difficult, inherited crisis, and therefore needs peace to resolve it," while he believes that citizens are "fed up with elections."

Dušan Bajatović (SPS) also said the provincial government "essentially fell" and that early elections would not be held "if an agreement is reached on what needs to be done."

He accused the Democrats of generating the crisis in Vojvodina, "which goes in favor of those who advocate in favor of abolishing the province's autonomy."

Mirović and Bajatović added that in the Vojvodina assembly should agree on resolving important issues such as the budget, the Statute of the province and the adoption of the Law on Financing and Jurisdiction of Vojvodina.