SAA makes Serbia stronger, says Tadić

Serbian president and DS leader Boris Tadic believes that if Serbia signs the SAA it will increase her strength and potentials to defend national interests. Tadic told the daily Blic in an interview published today that only an economically strong and stable Serbia can defend Kosovo and that the European path must therefore become a strategic determination for the country. SAA makes Serbia stronger, says Tadic He also accused the political rivals of his Democrats (DS) in the campaign for the May 11 elections of "systematically misleading the voters" and of trying to put up obstacles that nobody in the world puts before Serbia. "But let's repeat once again the elementary fact: by signing the agreement not only do we not recognize Kosovo, but we increase the country's strength and potential to defend our vital interests," Tadic said. He added that only the government can take Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic's powers to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), since the government unanimously approved this. The European Union is yet to offer the signing of the agreement to Serbia. Tadic also spoke about the differences between his party and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's DSS-NS coalition over the lawsuits to be brought against those countries that have recognized the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, which Belgrade considers illegal. The DS leader said he was against the move because there was no agreement between international legal experts on whether to sue directly or seek the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion via the UN General Assembly. While the DSS-NS favor direct lawsuits, the DS prefers the latter course of action. "I will accept arguments that come from a serious analysis by legal experts, and since this is a very serious state and legal issue, it is quite nonsensical that it should turn into a party squabble," he told the newspaper. But Blic is not the only daily that published an interview with Tadic – Vecernje Novosti did the same. He told this paper that the recent UN Security Council session on Kosovo showed that there are deep divisions among the members. Serbia will try to secure a majority of countries that wish to respect UN Charter and Resolution 1244 by the September meeting of the General assembly, he said. "Giving up Kosovo is out of the question. By signing the SAA we have a confirmation of Resolution 1244, and that is the only internationally recognized act that confirms Kosovo's status within Serbia, " Tadic said. Tadic campaigning in Belgrade today (Beta)

SAA makes Serbia stronger, says Tadić

He also accused the political rivals of his Democrats (DS) in the campaign for the May 11 elections of "systematically misleading the voters" and of trying to put up obstacles that nobody in the world puts before Serbia.

"But let's repeat once again the elementary fact: by signing the agreement not only do we not recognize Kosovo, but we increase the country's strength and potential to defend our vital interests," Tadić said.

He added that only the government can take Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić's powers to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), since the government unanimously approved this.

The European Union is yet to offer the signing of the agreement to Serbia.

Tadić also spoke about the differences between his party and Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica's DSS-NS coalition over the lawsuits to be brought against those countries that have recognized the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, which Belgrade considers illegal.

The DS leader said he was against the move because there was no agreement between international legal experts on whether to sue directly or seek the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion via the UN General Assembly.

While the DSS-NS favor direct lawsuits, the DS prefers the latter course of action.

"I will accept arguments that come from a serious analysis by legal experts, and since this is a very serious state and legal issue, it is quite nonsensical that it should turn into a party squabble," he told the newspaper.

But Blic is not the only daily that published an interview with Tadić – Večernje Novosti did the same. He told this paper that the recent UN Security Council session on Kosovo showed that there are deep divisions among the members.

Serbia will try to secure a majority of countries that wish to respect UN Charter and Resolution 1244 by the September meeting of the General assembly, he said.

"Giving up Kosovo is out of the question. By signing the SAA we have a confirmation of Resolution 1244, and that is the only internationally recognized act that confirms Kosovo's status within Serbia, " Tadić said.