SPS: SRS/DSS principles incontrovertible

The principles agreed on by the DSS and SRS are incontrovertible, but lack the principle of "social justice," says Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dacic. "Negotations were constructive and will continue tomorrow," said Dacic after talks with Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica at government headquarters, though he did not specify with whom, adding that that would depend on Kostunica himself. SPS: SRS/DSS principles incontrovertible The SPS leader did not want to discuss the possibility of forming a government with the Democratic Party (DS). Commenting on President Boris Tadic's remarks that the Socialists would be "a good partner for the DS" in government, Dacic replied that he could not dispute what others were saying. "I just hope that those who are saying such things about the SPS say that, regardless of whom the SPS forms a parliamentary majority with." The SPS leader said that the SPS-Associated Pensioners’ Party (PUPS)-United Serbia (JS) coalition’s platform was that a future government would have to address the issue of social justice, in addition to all other principles affecting national and state policy. “Tomorrow, we’ll put forward a part of our policies. These pertain to pensions, work, health care, and education. I think that should be one of the fundamental principles of the policy of the future parliamentary majority,” Dacic stressed. He said that the Socialists and the DSS had similar views on state and national issues. Dacic said that there had been no mention of a division of ministerial places during the talks. “The talks will continue. That’s the first step and a basic agreement on the common policy of that government. That should be followed by a very concrete coalition agreement containing time frames for enacting these laws,” said the SPS leader. He denied claims in certain quarters that EU High Representative Javier Solana had invited him to talks in order to persuade him to side with the DS. The meeting was attended by New Serbia leader Velimir Ilic, and Dacic’s fellow coalition leaders, Jovan Krkobabic and Dragan Markovic. Democratic Party of Serbia spokesman Andreja Mladenovic said that the first round of consultations on a common draft agreement for the formation “of a Serbian national government” had been “very good and constructive.” “A high degree of consensus was reached over the government’s character and its four manifesto aims,” Mladenovic told Tanjug, adding that SPS representatives had said that a further clearly formulated goal should be added to the agreement concerning social justice and the enactment of laws guaranteeing it. In response to criticism from the Democratic Party and G17 Plus that the consultations had been held in government premises, he replied that numerous meetings had been held in government premises during the formation of the previous government. “And now, as it was then, the only reasons are those of a technical nature,” explained Mladenovic Talks began just after 11:00 CET and lasted almost two and a half hours. Around 30 teams of journalists waited outside government headquarters, while the arrival of the two coalitions' representatives to the meeting was also watched by Foreign Minister and DS official Vuk Jeremic from the Foreign Ministry’s balcony, across the road. Earlier, Democratic Party (DS) President Boris Tadic said that the SPS was an entirely acceptable partner for forming a government, because the parties’ ideas belong to the Socialist International, and both stood for social reform, developing systems of social justice, and equal opportunities for all. Tadic said that he would defend the will of the Serbian electorate using all legitimate and democratic means, stating that that will had to “turn into a stable Serbian government.” “The political bargaining led by the SRS and DSS does not lead to stable government, and the person who ‘returned the mandate to the people’ cannot be prime minister again, because the people did not give him the mandate or their trust at the May 11 elections,” the president insisted. Tadic said that pro-European parties had received 400,000 more votes than the Radicals, and that the will of the voters had to be respected. “The majority of citizens voted for the policies of continued European integration and preservation of Kosovo within Serbia, which I campaigned for during the presidential elections. This same manifesto received the very clear backing of the Serbian people at the parliamentary elections. The policies of hate, lies and aggression have lost,” he underlined. Ivica Dacic (FoNet, archive) Daily: DS, SPS on verge of coalition The Socialist Party of Serbia and the Democratic Party (DS) are on the verge of a coalition agreement, daily Blic understands from senior officials in both parties. A tripartite meeting between the SPS, the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Serb Radical Party (SRS) has nonetheless been scheduled for today. The agreement between the “For a European Serbia“ list and the SPS should be concluded by the end of May, claims Blic’s source, who has attended talks between the two parties over the last two days. The deal is due to be announced straight after publication of the final election results, whose release has been postponed for seven days, as the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) looks into objections lodged over the running of the ballot in certain constituencies, says the source. The paper claims that agreements have also been reached with the Socialists over forming governments at local level. According to Blic, agreement was reached in the face of pressure exerted on SPS leader Ivica Dacic by DSS and SRS donors. The rumors come after last night, SPS deputy leader Zarko Obradovic told B92’s Poligraf that the party had still not reached agreement with any party over forming a new government. “Neither have we agreed with anyone at republic or city level,“ said Obradovic. “We worked well with [Vojislav] Kostunica between 2004 and 2006, and it’s logical that we should speak first to someone that we’ve worked well with,“ the SPS deputy leader said, adding that there would also be talks with the SRS. He said that the SPS had not as yet received an invitation for talks with the DS. “I reckon the new government will be formed within a month,“ said Obradovic. The SPS official also rejected speculation that fellow SPS official Milutin Mrkonjic could be the infrastructure minister in a new government, while that he himself would receive the Local Self-Government or European Integration Ministry. Nor did he give a direct reply when asked if the SPS would set as a condition for cooperation withdrawal of the arrest warrant for the Milosevic family, saying that the party had earlier called for an end to the persecution of the Milosevices, but not in the manner “presented in the media.“ “Serbia’s state and national integrity, the Dayton Accords, an economically developed Serbia, a socially just Serbia, new laws on labor, pensions and disability insurance, high education—these are the key elements in the SPS’s manifesto,“ said Obradovic. Membership of the Socialist International was also one of the party’s aims, he said, though he added that the Socialists “would not sacrifice their policies for foreign aims.“ DS official confirms contact with SPS “There has been contact between the Democratic Party (DS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), which will be formalized when both parties are ready to announce it to the media,” says DS official Dragoljub Micunovic. He told daily Blic that officials of both parties were participating in joint delegations in international institutions, where they had had the chance to exchange ideas and opinions “without the presence of the public, and away from the prying eyes of the media.” Regarding the possibility of a coalition between the DS and the SPS, Micunovic said that there should be no problems within such a coalition as far as their “manifestos” were concerned. “The only possible problems could be surrounding the Hague Tribunal, but I think that the formulation of ‘respecting international obligations’ is acceptable to them,” the DS official said. JS leader: No future without EU United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan Markovic told B92 that a meeting between the leaders of the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition with Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica was set to be held today. He reiterated that Serbia had no economic future without entering the EU with Kosovo, though he added that on entering parliament, he would propose that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU be included on the agenda. If talks with DSS fell through, Markovic said that he would recommend meetings with DS leader Boris Tadic. “First we negotiate with Kostunica. If he doesn’t accept the principles offered by the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition, my suggestion is that we talk with the DS. We can talk with the DS as long as [Liberal Democratic Party leader] Cedomir Jovanovic is not part of the government—but only if talks with the DSS-NS fall through. We cannot afford to waste another six months forming a government and allow investment to Serbia to run dry—we must never allow that to happen again like we did last year,” warned Markovic. He said that whoever accepted the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition’s manifesto would be able to discuss the formation of a government with them, adding that the coalition would remain united throughout the negotiations.

SPS: SRS/DSS principles incontrovertible

The SPS leader did not want to discuss the possibility of forming a government with the Democratic Party (DS).

Commenting on President Boris Tadić's remarks that the Socialists would be "a good partner for the DS" in government, Dačić replied that he could not dispute what others were saying.

"I just hope that those who are saying such things about the SPS say that, regardless of whom the SPS forms a parliamentary majority with."

The SPS leader said that the SPS-Associated Pensioners’ Party (PUPS)-United Serbia (JS) coalition’s platform was that a future government would have to address the issue of social justice, in addition to all other principles affecting national and state policy.

“Tomorrow, we’ll put forward a part of our policies. These pertain to pensions, work, health care, and education. I think that should be one of the fundamental principles of the policy of the future parliamentary majority,” Dačić stressed.

He said that the Socialists and the DSS had similar views on state and national issues.

Dačić said that there had been no mention of a division of ministerial places during the talks.

“The talks will continue. That’s the first step and a basic agreement on the common policy of that government. That should be followed by a very concrete coalition agreement containing time frames for enacting these laws,” said the SPS leader.

He denied claims in certain quarters that EU High Representative Javier Solana had invited him to talks in order to persuade him to side with the DS.

The meeting was attended by New Serbia leader Velimir Ilić, and Dačić’s fellow coalition leaders, Jovan Krkobabić and Dragan Marković.

Democratic Party of Serbia spokesman Andreja Mladenović said that the first round of consultations on a common draft agreement for the formation “of a Serbian national government” had been “very good and constructive.”

“A high degree of consensus was reached over the government’s character and its four manifesto aims,” Mladenović told Tanjug, adding that SPS representatives had said that a further clearly formulated goal should be added to the agreement concerning social justice and the enactment of laws guaranteeing it.

In response to criticism from the Democratic Party and G17 Plus that the consultations had been held in government premises, he replied that numerous meetings had been held in government premises during the formation of the previous government.

“And now, as it was then, the only reasons are those of a technical nature,” explained Mladenović

Talks began just after 11:00 CET and lasted almost two and a half hours. Around 30 teams of journalists waited outside government headquarters, while the arrival of the two coalitions' representatives to the meeting was also watched by Foreign Minister and DS official Vuk Jeremić from the Foreign Ministry’s balcony, across the road.

Earlier, Democratic Party (DS) President Boris Tadić said that the SPS was an entirely acceptable partner for forming a government, because the parties’ ideas belong to the Socialist International, and both stood for social reform, developing systems of social justice, and equal opportunities for all.

Tadić said that he would defend the will of the Serbian electorate using all legitimate and democratic means, stating that that will had to “turn into a stable Serbian government.”

“The political bargaining led by the SRS and DSS does not lead to stable government, and the person who ‘returned the mandate to the people’ cannot be prime minister again, because the people did not give him the mandate or their trust at the May 11 elections,” the president insisted.

Tadić said that pro-European parties had received 400,000 more votes than the Radicals, and that the will of the voters had to be respected.

“The majority of citizens voted for the policies of continued European integration and preservation of Kosovo within Serbia, which I campaigned for during the presidential elections. This same manifesto received the very clear backing of the Serbian people at the parliamentary elections. The policies of hate, lies and aggression have lost,” he underlined.

Daily: DS, SPS on verge of coalition

The Socialist Party of Serbia and the Democratic Party (DS) are on the verge of a coalition agreement, daily Blic understands from senior officials in both parties.

A tripartite meeting between the SPS, the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Serb Radical Party (SRS) has nonetheless been scheduled for today.

The agreement between the “For a European Serbia“ list and the SPS should be concluded by the end of May, claims Blic’s source, who has attended talks between the two parties over the last two days.

The deal is due to be announced straight after publication of the final election results, whose release has been postponed for seven days, as the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) looks into objections lodged over the running of the ballot in certain constituencies, says the source.

The paper claims that agreements have also been reached with the Socialists over forming governments at local level.

According to Blic, agreement was reached in the face of pressure exerted on SPS leader Ivica Dačić by DSS and SRS donors.

The rumors come after last night, SPS deputy leader Žarko Obradović told B92’s Poligraf that the party had still not reached agreement with any party over forming a new government.

“Neither have we agreed with anyone at republic or city level,“ said Obradović.

“We worked well with [Vojislav] Koštunica between 2004 and 2006, and it’s logical that we should speak first to someone that we’ve worked well with,“ the SPS deputy leader said, adding that there would also be talks with the SRS.

He said that the SPS had not as yet received an invitation for talks with the DS.

“I reckon the new government will be formed within a month,“ said Obradović.

The SPS official also rejected speculation that fellow SPS official Milutin Mrkonjić could be the infrastructure minister in a new government, while that he himself would receive the Local Self-Government or European Integration Ministry.

Nor did he give a direct reply when asked if the SPS would set as a condition for cooperation withdrawal of the arrest warrant for the Milošević family, saying that the party had earlier called for an end to the persecution of the Miloševićes, but not in the manner “presented in the media.“

“Serbia’s state and national integrity, the Dayton Accords, an economically developed Serbia, a socially just Serbia, new laws on labor, pensions and disability insurance, high education—these are the key elements in the SPS’s manifesto,“ said Obradović.

Membership of the Socialist International was also one of the party’s aims, he said, though he added that the Socialists “would not sacrifice their policies for foreign aims.“

DS official confirms contact with SPS

“There has been contact between the Democratic Party (DS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), which will be formalized when both parties are ready to announce it to the media,” says DS official Dragoljub Mićunović.

He told daily Blic that officials of both parties were participating in joint delegations in international institutions, where they had had the chance to exchange ideas and opinions “without the presence of the public, and away from the prying eyes of the media.”

Regarding the possibility of a coalition between the DS and the SPS, Mićunović said that there should be no problems within such a coalition as far as their “manifestos” were concerned.

“The only possible problems could be surrounding the Hague Tribunal, but I think that the formulation of ‘respecting international obligations’ is acceptable to them,” the DS official said.

JS leader: No future without EU

United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan Marković told B92 that a meeting between the leaders of the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition with Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Koštunica was set to be held today.

He reiterated that Serbia had no economic future without entering the EU with Kosovo, though he added that on entering parliament, he would propose that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU be included on the agenda.

If talks with DSS fell through, Marković said that he would recommend meetings with DS leader Boris Tadić.

“First we negotiate with Koštunica. If he doesn’t accept the principles offered by the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition, my suggestion is that we talk with the DS. We can talk with the DS as long as [Liberal Democratic Party leader] Čedomir Jovanović is not part of the government—but only if talks with the DSS-NS fall through. We cannot afford to waste another six months forming a government and allow investment to Serbia to run dry—we must never allow that to happen again like we did last year,” warned Marković.

He said that whoever accepted the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition’s manifesto would be able to discuss the formation of a government with them, adding that the coalition would remain united throughout the negotiations.