Government collapses; May elections likely

PM Vojislav Kostunica has announced today that the conditions for his cabinet to continue work do not exist. Kostunica, who is also the leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), was holding an extraordinary news conference at the seat of the Serbian government in Belgrade when he said that its mandate now needs to be returned to the people. Government collapses; May elections likely The prime minister believes that the most rational move would be to schedule the parliamentary elections along the local and provincial votes, called for May 11. Kostunica also said that he has called his cabinet to meet on March 10, where the decision to dissolve the government and schedule the new elections will be discussed. He specified that a lack of a unified position on Kosovo is the reason for the government's collapse. Kostunica, who has not formally resigned, said that he informed his coalition partners and the largest opposition party, the Radicals (SRS), about his decision to announce that the cabinet can no longer function. He specified that Brussels has enabled all its member states to individually recognize Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, which also gave them the green light to trample on the UN Charter, EU's Founding Act and UN Resolution 1244. Kostunica said he is convinced that the latest developments will not bring instability to the country, with all its institutions functioning. Asked why the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) was initialed last year, while he now opposes its signing, Kostunica said the initialed text guaranteed Serbia's territorial integrity with Kosovo inside its borders, "unlike the situation today". "After the unilateral declaration and recognition things are different and it would be good if the agreement could be signed in the shape in which it was initialed. It cannot be ratified by all the EU countries individually and those who have recognized Kosovo's independence cannot accept an agreement that says Serbia is a whole state with Kosovo in its borders," Kostunica explained. The EU has in January decided not to sing the SAA, demanding full cooperation with the Hague from Serbia. The government was put together less than a year ago, and is made up of the Democratic Party (DS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), New Serbia (NS) and G17 Plus. Ever since the presidential elections on Feb. 3, Serbia’s ruling coalition has been embroiled in a deep crisis over differences over policies on European integration and Kosovo. Kostunica’s DSS said it would support a Serb Radical Party (SRS) resolution in parliament, calling on the EU to “clearly and unambiguously” confirm Serbia’s territorial integrity, as a condition for further European integration. The DSS’s coalition partners in the government, the Democratic Party (DS) and G17 Plus, have said that they will not support the resolution, claiming that its aim is not the defense of Kosovo, but putting a halt to European integration. The prime minister said yesterday that he no longer had confidence in the sincerity of his coalition partners to fight for Kosovo, confirming that the clashes within the government were escalating. DS whip Nada Kolundzija said that early elections were one solution if the ruling coalition’s aim of European integration had changed. While Infrastructure Minister and New Serbia leader Velimir Ilic believed that the way out of the crisis was the dismissal of Economy Minister and G17 Plus leader Mladjan Dinkic; G17 Plus said that the problem could be solved by elections. The SRS have not yet explicitly stated whether they favour elections or are ready to form a new ruling majority with the DSS. SRS General Secretary Aleksandar Vucic called on the members of the ruling coalition to leave the government if they could not agree on the country’s future. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been insisting on early parliamentary elections for some time now since the slow-down in European integration. Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dacic called for a government of national unity to be formed, including those parties that shared similar views on national policy. Vojislav Kostunica addresses reporters today (Beta)

Government collapses; May elections likely

The prime minister believes that the most rational move would be to schedule the parliamentary elections along the local and provincial votes, called for May 11.

Koštunica also said that he has called his cabinet to meet on March 10, where the decision to dissolve the government and schedule the new elections will be discussed.

He specified that a lack of a unified position on Kosovo is the reason for the government's collapse.

Koštunica, who has not formally resigned, said that he informed his coalition partners and the largest opposition party, the Radicals (SRS), about his decision to announce that the cabinet can no longer function.

He specified that Brussels has enabled all its member states to individually recognize Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, which also gave them the green light to trample on the UN Charter, EU's Founding Act and UN Resolution 1244.

Koštunica said he is convinced that the latest developments will not bring instability to the country, with all its institutions functioning.

Asked why the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) was initialed last year, while he now opposes its signing, Koštunica said the initialed text guaranteed Serbia's territorial integrity with Kosovo inside its borders, "unlike the situation today".

"After the unilateral declaration and recognition things are different and it would be good if the agreement could be signed in the shape in which it was initialed. It cannot be ratified by all the EU countries individually and those who have recognized Kosovo's independence cannot accept an agreement that says Serbia is a whole state with Kosovo in its borders," Koštunica explained.

The EU has in January decided not to sing the SAA, demanding full cooperation with the Hague from Serbia.

The government was put together less than a year ago, and is made up of the Democratic Party (DS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), New Serbia (NS) and G17 Plus.

Ever since the presidential elections on Feb. 3, Serbia’s ruling coalition has been embroiled in a deep crisis over differences over policies on European integration and Kosovo.

Koštunica’s DSS said it would support a Serb Radical Party (SRS) resolution in parliament, calling on the EU to “clearly and unambiguously” confirm Serbia’s territorial integrity, as a condition for further European integration.

The DSS’s coalition partners in the government, the Democratic Party (DS) and G17 Plus, have said that they will not support the resolution, claiming that its aim is not the defense of Kosovo, but putting a halt to European integration.

The prime minister said yesterday that he no longer had confidence in the sincerity of his coalition partners to fight for Kosovo, confirming that the clashes within the government were escalating.

DS whip Nada Kolundžija said that early elections were one solution if the ruling coalition’s aim of European integration had changed.

While Infrastructure Minister and New Serbia leader Velimir Ilić believed that the way out of the crisis was the dismissal of Economy Minister and G17 Plus leader Mlađan Dinkić; G17 Plus said that the problem could be solved by elections.

The SRS have not yet explicitly stated whether they favour elections or are ready to form a new ruling majority with the DSS.

SRS General Secretary Aleksandar Vučić called on the members of the ruling coalition to leave the government if they could not agree on the country’s future.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been insisting on early parliamentary elections for some time now since the slow-down in European integration.

Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dačić called for a government of national unity to be formed, including those parties that shared similar views on national policy.