Both sides wooing ethnic minorities parties

Officials from a Sandzak Bosniak ticket say they have received an invitation for cabinet talks from Vojislav Kostunica's DSS-NS coalition. However, the Bosniak List for a European Sandzak, led by Sulejman Ugljanin, said it is waiting for a similar call from the coalition gathered around the Democratic Party (DS). Both sides wooing ethnic minorities parties Future MP from this ticket Esad Dzudzevic told Tanjug news agency today in Novi Pazar that the list, which will have two seats in parliament, will be equally open to discussions with both sides of the political divide in Serbia, currently attempting to form a ruling coalition. The DS coalition includes the Sandzak Democratic Party (SDP), led by Ugljanin's bitter local rival, Rasim Ljajic. But Dzudzevic says this would not impede cooperation on the state level. “That would be a good model for overcoming the lack of unity in Sandzak, and that is why it is not a problem for us,” Dzudzevic said. At the same time, this political group is open to a coalition with the DSS, but does not approve of a direct coalition with the Serb Radical Party (SRS). “One of our permanent conditions is that we cannot be in a coalition with SRS, but in this case, we would be working under the government of Vojislav Kostunica and we would communicate with him as a coalition partner. Whether someone else is willing to form a coalition with us, that is not a question for us,” said Dzudzevic. He added that they will present to all interested parties three principles for cooperation: the protection and advancement of the rights of Bosniaks, investments in Sandzak and Serbia’s membership in the European Union. Another official, Bajram Omeragic, today revealed for Beta news agency that Kostunica has offered the regional development portfolio to the list. Asked whether they would vote in favor of annulling the SAA, he said that they have many times proven that "Europe comes first" for this coalition. "But, for us, members of ethnic minorities, the EU also means a chance to get a ministry of our own," Omeragic was quoted as saying. Ljajic: Ugljanin is fine SDP leader Rasim Ljajic said today that he has "nothing against the list of Ugljanin being a part of the 'For a European Serbia'-led ruling coalition". “It is most important to form a government of the democratic bloc in which the DS and the ‘For a European Serbia’ list will be pivotal… I do not have the right to turn my spite, vanity or anger into a political position,” Ljajic told daily Danas. Halimi: Pro-Euro govt. important for Valley Albanians Leader of the Presevo Valley Albanian Coalition Riza Halimi told FoNet news agency Wednesday that the coalition will support a government led by the Democratic Party. Halimi will be the only ethnic Albanian lawmaker in the new parliament. He also said that “there will be a small problem explaining to people why we are supporting the government if the Socialist Party of Serbia is in it, because of everything that occurred in the past.” “But I believe that the Albanians in the Presevo Valley will realize how important it is for them for Serbia to have a democratic and pro-European government,” Halimi said. He added that Serb officials in South Serbia will be offered participation in the local government in the municipalities of Presevo and Bujanovac - where Halimi’s Party of Democratic Actions received a majority – "depending on how much the state is interested in working in the region and improving the rights of Albanians".

Both sides wooing ethnic minorities parties

Future MP from this ticket Esad Džudžević told Tanjug news agency today in Novi Pazar that the list, which will have two seats in parliament, will be equally open to discussions with both sides of the political divide in Serbia, currently attempting to form a ruling coalition.

The DS coalition includes the Sandžak Democratic Party (SDP), led by Ugljanin's bitter local rival, Rasim Ljajić.

But Džudžević says this would not impede cooperation on the state level.

“That would be a good model for overcoming the lack of unity in Sandžak, and that is why it is not a problem for us,” Džudžević said.

At the same time, this political group is open to a coalition with the DSS, but does not approve of a direct coalition with the Serb Radical Party (SRS).

“One of our permanent conditions is that we cannot be in a coalition with SRS, but in this case, we would be working under the government of Vojislav Koštunica and we would communicate with him as a coalition partner. Whether someone else is willing to form a coalition with us, that is not a question for us,” said Džudžević.

He added that they will present to all interested parties three principles for cooperation: the protection and advancement of the rights of Bosniaks, investments in Sandžak and Serbia’s membership in the European Union.

Another official, Bajram Omeragić, today revealed for Beta news agency that Koštunica has offered the regional development portfolio to the list.

Asked whether they would vote in favor of annulling the SAA, he said that they have many times proven that "Europe comes first" for this coalition.

"But, for us, members of ethnic minorities, the EU also means a chance to get a ministry of our own," Omeragić was quoted as saying.

Ljajić: Ugljanin is fine

SDP leader Rasim Ljajić said today that he has "nothing against the list of Ugljanin being a part of the 'For a European Serbia'-led ruling coalition".

“It is most important to form a government of the democratic bloc in which the DS and the ‘For a European Serbia’ list will be pivotal… I do not have the right to turn my spite, vanity or anger into a political position,” Ljajić told daily Danas.

Halimi: Pro-Euro govt. important for Valley Albanians

Leader of the Preševo Valley Albanian Coalition Riza Halimi told FoNet news agency Wednesday that the coalition will support a government led by the Democratic Party.

Halimi will be the only ethnic Albanian lawmaker in the new parliament.

He also said that “there will be a small problem explaining to people why we are supporting the government if the Socialist Party of Serbia is in it, because of everything that occurred in the past.”

“But I believe that the Albanians in the Preševo Valley will realize how important it is for them for Serbia to have a democratic and pro-European government,” Halimi said.

He added that Serb officials in South Serbia will be offered participation in the local government in the municipalities of Preševo and Bujanovac - where Halimi’s Party of Democratic Actions received a majority – "depending on how much the state is interested in working in the region and improving the rights of Albanians".