Tadić on energy deal, elections

Boris Tadic has expressed his regret that the govt. didn't have the capacity to ratify the Russian energy deal. The Democratic Party (DS) leader said he was certain that the future parliament would set the deal as one of its priorities. Tadic on energy deal, elections “It’s purely a matter of a technical delay,” said the president. He explained that work on elections had limited the powers of the government and parliament, stressing that it had been Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica that had brought the government down. Tadic also agreed with the comments of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the matter. “The agreement stipulates that it comes into force on the day of its signing and that ratification does not delay its application, nor will there be any negative ramifications for this strategically vital agreement between two friendly countries,” the president assured. On the subject of elections, he surmised that Serbia had not yet crossed the point of no return to the 90s. “This point, this moment will appear on May 11. When the people of Serbia 'hammer in' once and for all their desire for Serbia to become a prosperous, rich and European country, no (Vojislav) Seseljs or their coalition partners will ever be able to change that,” Tadic underlined. The president agreed that the elections were mainly viewed as voting for democratic and against undemocratic options, for a pro-European against an anti-European course, for the future and against the past, and now also, for Europe or against it, for Serbia or against Serbia, adding that this was the case because such was the reality that the country was faced with. “Realistically speaking, we have parties here that would like to block Serbia as far as its future is concerned. There are still those that dream of the Karlovac-Karlobag-Ogulin border, who want Serbia to become someone's province, who want a conflict with the world, and who only see a future for themselves in isolation and turmoil. Unfortunately, this is our reality, and the people have to realize that, no matter how hard they may try to forget about the disaster and turmoil we lived through just a few years ago,” Tadic explained. He denied claims that in his statements he had sent an indirect invitation for post-election cooperation to all parties save the Radicals, even the Socialist Party of Serbia, and reiterated that, in principle, “all those who receive the approval of the citizens, and who accept the principles that the new government will be based on, are welcome.” Boris Tadic (FoNet, archive)

Tadić on energy deal, elections

“It’s purely a matter of a technical delay,” said the president. He explained that work on elections had limited the powers of the government and parliament, stressing that it had been Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica that had brought the government down.

Tadić also agreed with the comments of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the matter.

“The agreement stipulates that it comes into force on the day of its signing and that ratification does not delay its application, nor will there be any negative ramifications for this strategically vital agreement between two friendly countries,” the president assured.

On the subject of elections, he surmised that Serbia had not yet crossed the point of no return to the 90s.

“This point, this moment will appear on May 11. When the people of Serbia 'hammer in' once and for all their desire for Serbia to become a prosperous, rich and European country, no (Vojislav) Šešeljs or their coalition partners will ever be able to change that,” Tadić underlined.

The president agreed that the elections were mainly viewed as voting for democratic and against undemocratic options, for a pro-European against an anti-European course, for the future and against the past, and now also, for Europe or against it, for Serbia or against Serbia, adding that this was the case because such was the reality that the country was faced with.

“Realistically speaking, we have parties here that would like to block Serbia as far as its future is concerned. There are still those that dream of the Karlovac-Karlobag-Ogulin border, who want Serbia to become someone's province, who want a conflict with the world, and who only see a future for themselves in isolation and turmoil. Unfortunately, this is our reality, and the people have to realize that, no matter how hard they may try to forget about the disaster and turmoil we lived through just a few years ago,” Tadić explained.

He denied claims that in his statements he had sent an indirect invitation for post-election cooperation to all parties save the Radicals, even the Socialist Party of Serbia, and reiterated that, in principle, “all those who receive the approval of the citizens, and who accept the principles that the new government will be based on, are welcome.”