Tadić: DSS-SRS won’t form government

Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic says that the DSS and SRS will not form the next government. He added that ministers from his Democratic Party (DS) would not impose any conditions for their support of the energy agreement with Russia. Tadic: DSS-SRS won’t form government Tadic told Radio Television Serbia (RTS) that confirmation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and further European integration would not be a condition at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting for confirming the energy agreement. He said that the dissolved parliament could not ratify the SAA or the energy agreement, adding that he would not allow any breaches of the law. Asked why it had been necessary to sign the SAA two weeks ago, the president replied that it should have been signed seven years ago, adding that “we couldn’t afford to let this chance slip away, because it would have been our own fault.” He predicted that after the parliamentary elections, a government consisting of a coalition of the Serb Radical Party (SRS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and New Serbia (NS) would not be formed. Tadic said that the DS would “undoubtedly have a leading role in the formation of the next government, and will continue to implement its policies.” He said that the DSS would be an acceptable partner for DS if it decided to return to the European path, adding that the DSS would not decide the identity of the next prime minister. He said that the Liberal Democratic Party would be an acceptable partner if it changed its policy on Kosovo. Tadic said that all parties, including the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), were potential partners for the DS provided they accepted the principles on which the outgoing government was formed, one of which was resumption of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. If the SPS accepted these principles, Tadic said, that meant that it had overhauled the policies it had led during the Nineties. Boris Tadic (FoNet archive) Jeremic: SAA confirmation on tomorrow’s agenda Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has told B92 that DS ministers will call for confirmation of the SAA at Friday’s cabinet meeting. Both he and President Tadic have announced that the SAA will be discussed tomorrow. Jeremic told B92 that the DS would—in line with legal procedures—put two very important agreements for Serbia to a vote: the energy agreement with Russia, and the SAA with the EU. “Those are two things that are of strategic interest to the citizens of Serbia, and we will stress as much on Friday, provided there is no institutional obstruction on the part of those who have the capacity to do so,” said the foreign minister . He said that Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica could potentially obstruct the vote, since he would be chairing the meeting, and that he could terminate the meeting at any given moment under the law. “The DS will call for a vote on something it believes is of vital interest to the people of Serbia, and, if voting commences, we will use our majority in government to approve both agreements,“ Jeremic said. "PM to be from European coalition" Rasim Ljajic believes the new government will be made up of at least three political lists, and that the new PM will come from the “For a European Serbia” list. His Sandzak Democratic Party (SDP) is one of the parties that will be appearing on that list on May 11. In an interview with daily Novosti, Ljajic said that list would gain the most votes and seats in parliament, which would give them “the best starting point, as well as a psychological advantage in negotiations about the formation of a new government. ”He said that his coalition would form a new government “with all those who support a policy based on Serbia’s European path, economic development, social justice and the struggle to preserve the country’s territorial integrity.” “Coalition partners will be determined by the election results and their respect of our principles, but there is no doubt that the 'For a European Serbia ' list and the Democratic Party (DS) will be the mainstay of that new government,” said Ljajic. According to the SDP leader, “only the election results can prevent” the possible formation of a government by the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Serb Radical Party (SRS). “Their policies have never been more compatible than today. In their anti-European rhetoric, the nationalist coalition even surpasses the Radicals. But, I am convinced that a new government will not be formed without the participation of at least three political lists,” he predicted. Ljajic added that, in the event of a victory for the 'For a European Serbia' coalition, the SAA would remain in force and stressed that at the coming elections “the people will decide in favor of Europe, as in a referendum.” “Every other dilemma is false and artificially imposed,” he warned. The SDP leader added that “sadly, Kosovo is being used in the same way Milosevic used it for his party interests, and in the absence of active and well-conceived policies that could preserve Kosovo within the Serbian structure.” “Kosovo is a screen behind which the anti-European policies of some parties are hidden, but our party will never give up its struggle for Kosovo, no matter how long and hard it might be,” he concluded.

Tadić: DSS-SRS won’t form government

Tadić told Radio Television Serbia (RTS) that confirmation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and further European integration would not be a condition at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting for confirming the energy agreement.

He said that the dissolved parliament could not ratify the SAA or the energy agreement, adding that he would not allow any breaches of the law.

Asked why it had been necessary to sign the SAA two weeks ago, the president replied that it should have been signed seven years ago, adding that “we couldn’t afford to let this chance slip away, because it would have been our own fault.”

He predicted that after the parliamentary elections, a government consisting of a coalition of the Serb Radical Party (SRS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and New Serbia (NS) would not be formed.

Tadić said that the DS would “undoubtedly have a leading role in the formation of the next government, and will continue to implement its policies.”

He said that the DSS would be an acceptable partner for DS if it decided to return to the European path, adding that the DSS would not decide the identity of the next prime minister.

He said that the Liberal Democratic Party would be an acceptable partner if it changed its policy on Kosovo.

Tadić said that all parties, including the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), were potential partners for the DS provided they accepted the principles on which the outgoing government was formed, one of which was resumption of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

If the SPS accepted these principles, Tadić said, that meant that it had overhauled the policies it had led during the Nineties.

Jeremić: SAA confirmation on tomorrow’s agenda

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić has told B92 that DS ministers will call for confirmation of the SAA at Friday’s cabinet meeting.

Both he and President Tadić have announced that the SAA will be discussed tomorrow.

Jeremić told B92 that the DS would—in line with legal procedures—put two very important agreements for Serbia to a vote: the energy agreement with Russia, and the SAA with the EU.

“Those are two things that are of strategic interest to the citizens of Serbia, and we will stress as much on Friday, provided there is no institutional obstruction on the part of those who have the capacity to do so,” said the foreign minister .

He said that Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica could potentially obstruct the vote, since he would be chairing the meeting, and that he could terminate the meeting at any given moment under the law.

“The DS will call for a vote on something it believes is of vital interest to the people of Serbia, and, if voting commences, we will use our majority in government to approve both agreements,“ Jeremić said.

"PM to be from European coalition"

Rasim Ljajić believes the new government will be made up of at least three political lists, and that the new PM will come from the “For a European Serbia” list.

His Sandžak Democratic Party (SDP) is one of the parties that will be appearing on that list on May 11.

In an interview with daily Novosti, Ljajić said that list would gain the most votes and seats in parliament, which would give them “the best starting point, as well as a psychological advantage in negotiations about the formation of a new government.

”He said that his coalition would form a new government “with all those who support a policy based on Serbia’s European path, economic development, social justice and the struggle to preserve the country’s territorial integrity.”

“Coalition partners will be determined by the election results and their respect of our principles, but there is no doubt that the 'For a European Serbia ' list and the Democratic Party (DS) will be the mainstay of that new government,” said Ljajić.

According to the SDP leader, “only the election results can prevent” the possible formation of a government by the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Serb Radical Party (SRS).

“Their policies have never been more compatible than today. In their anti-European rhetoric, the nationalist coalition even surpasses the Radicals. But, I am convinced that a new government will not be formed without the participation of at least three political lists,” he predicted.

Ljajić added that, in the event of a victory for the 'For a European Serbia' coalition, the SAA would remain in force and stressed that at the coming elections “the people will decide in favor of Europe, as in a referendum.”

“Every other dilemma is false and artificially imposed,” he warned.

The SDP leader added that “sadly, Kosovo is being used in the same way Milošević used it for his party interests, and in the absence of active and well-conceived policies that could preserve Kosovo within the Serbian structure.”

“Kosovo is a screen behind which the anti-European policies of some parties are hidden, but our party will never give up its struggle for Kosovo, no matter how long and hard it might be,” he concluded.