"Elites oblivious to people's desire to join EU"

A prominent NGO sector figure says Serbia's elites do not realize most citizens want the country to join the EU. Belgrade's Political Excellence Fund Director Sonja Liht told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik that research shows the most dominant common political denominator Serbian citizens have is their belief that Serbia should join the European Union. "Elites oblivious to people's desire to join EU" "Unfortunately, it seems that this trend, which in all surveys constantly goes over 70 percent, has not been sufficiently recognized by the domestic elite, political and intellectual alike," Liht said. She added that Serbia must formulate its positions in a way that makes it "unequivocally clear they are not the messages coming from the 1990's" According to Liht, who spent the last decade as one of the more vocal critics of the Milosevic regime, Serbia must present concern over its territorial integrity "in a way that will make it clear it is not hatred for the others, or greater-Serbia nationalism speaking from us, but justified fear about the future of our state and nation." "Unfortunately, our most prominent leaders, faced with a delicate moment we live in, but often also with their own political frustrations, have neither the strength nor the will to realize Serbia's cause will be much better represented if the rhetoric stays away from the inflammatory and exclusive," Liht told the newspaper. She added that politicians often use foreign policy for their domestic political needs, describing this practice as "short-sighted and very irresponsible toward Serbia." She also believes that forming of a government of national salvation, an idea floated as a possibility should Kosovo declare unilateral independence, would have an adverse effect on the country's EU future. "Some parties, SRS first and foremost, are so proud of their anti-European policy that any talk of Serbia's membership becomes pointless." "We can see quite clearly how the 1990's have slowed us down, and it now remains to be seen for how many decades we would have to pay if those whose legacy includes wars, economic collapse and Kosovo were to return to power," Liht concluded. Sonja Liht (Tanjug)

"Elites oblivious to people's desire to join EU"

"Unfortunately, it seems that this trend, which in all surveys constantly goes over 70 percent, has not been sufficiently recognized by the domestic elite, political and intellectual alike," Liht said.

She added that Serbia must formulate its positions in a way that makes it "unequivocally clear they are not the messages coming from the 1990's"

According to Liht, who spent the last decade as one of the more vocal critics of the Milošević regime, Serbia must present concern over its territorial integrity "in a way that will make it clear it is not hatred for the others, or greater-Serbia nationalism speaking from us, but justified fear about the future of our state and nation."

"Unfortunately, our most prominent leaders, faced with a delicate moment we live in, but often also with their own political frustrations, have neither the strength nor the will to realize Serbia's cause will be much better represented if the rhetoric stays away from the inflammatory and exclusive," Liht told the newspaper.

She added that politicians often use foreign policy for their domestic political needs, describing this practice as "short-sighted and very irresponsible toward Serbia."

She also believes that forming of a government of national salvation, an idea floated as a possibility should Kosovo declare unilateral independence, would have an adverse effect on the country's EU future.

"Some parties, SRS first and foremost, are so proud of their anti-European policy that any talk of Serbia's membership becomes pointless."

"We can see quite clearly how the 1990's have slowed us down, and it now remains to be seen for how many decades we would have to pay if those whose legacy includes wars, economic collapse and Kosovo were to return to power," Liht concluded.