DS-SPS declaration eliciting mixed response

The Declaration of Reconciliation signed by the DS and the SPS has drawn a negative reaction not only from the opposition, but ruling coalition members too. Analysts, however, see the reconciliation of the two parties as a major political step towards the future that could mark a watershed on the political scene. DS-SPS declaration eliciting mixed response Analyst Milan Nikolic says that the signing draws a symbolic end to a political conflict, and that the Democratic Party (DS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) have decided on cooperation, as already expressed through the formation of the government. “Serbia needs a kind of political tolerance on the main stage, not political enmity between the parties. What’s necessary is a kind of creative competition of political ideas and programs, and I hope that that will continue to exist. The next phase is, let’s say, for the parts of the Serb Radical Party (SRS) to bury the hatchet with each other, then for the former Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) partners, the DS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DOS), to do so too. They can all retain their political positions, but it’s important that they don’t ‘pump’ any acts of hostility in the political sphere,” says Nikolic. However, the analyst agrees that the distribution of directorships within the public companies in Belgrade on Friday did play a role in facilitating the signing of the declaration. Failure to reach agreement there, he is certain, would have sent matters in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, he says that that agreement is just one of the factors that brought about the signing of the declaration. “The SPS has nowhere to go. They have to find a new, younger electorate, if they hold on to their former electorate, they won’t make the parliamentary census and will cease to be a relevant party. It seems to me that they’ve thought out their path pretty well, to move towards the DS, which, together with them, is heading towards Europe, instead of heading to some kind of sideline, which, for instance, the DSS has chosen. I hope that they too will snap out of their autism and begin to take rational political decisions,” said Nikolic. The reconciliation of the Socialists and the DS has received a mixed reaction among politicians. Serb Progressive Party MP Aleksandar Vucic says that it is a pathetic farce that no-one in Serbia cares about. The DSS insist that it is nothing but political marketing, while the SRS’s Gordana Pop Lazic says that the signing of the declaration constitutes reconciliation between those who broke up at the Eighth Session of the Serbian Communist Party’s Central Committee. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic says that the reconciliation is a theatrical melodrama that Serbia has no need for. New Serbia leader Velimir Ilic says that it a curious document that not even the late Zoran Djindjic would have approved of. Meanwhile, DS and SPS leaders Boris Tadic and Ivica Dacic said that document was historic, and a step towards a broader political consensus over the most important state and national interests. Tadic said that any party wanting a better future for Serbia's citizens and a resumption of the process of European integration and of the diplomatic endeavors to preserve Kosovo would be welcome to join. “The declaration also constitutes a message to the international community that Serbia has left behind conflicts and confrontation, and entered a new political era,” he said. “Political reconciliation should pave the way for national reconciliation too, as past conflicts were threatening the country with disintegration,” the DS leader said. Dacic said that only a strong and politically stable Serbia could protect national interests, join the EU, and ensure economic development. “This is not a media or political show, Serbia should turn away from the past for the sake of a better future,” he said. “It was difficult to constitute the present government as the SPS and DS symbolized the powers that ruled Serbia before and after October 5, 2000, but this declaration formally consigns this symbolic antagonism to the past,” he said. Ivica Dacic, Boris Tadic at yesterday's signing ceremony (FoNet)

DS-SPS declaration eliciting mixed response

Analyst Milan Nikolić says that the signing draws a symbolic end to a political conflict, and that the Democratic Party (DS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) have decided on cooperation, as already expressed through the formation of the government.

“Serbia needs a kind of political tolerance on the main stage, not political enmity between the parties. What’s necessary is a kind of creative competition of political ideas and programs, and I hope that that will continue to exist. The next phase is, let’s say, for the parts of the Serb Radical Party (SRS) to bury the hatchet with each other, then for the former Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) partners, the DS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DOS), to do so too. They can all retain their political positions, but it’s important that they don’t ‘pump’ any acts of hostility in the political sphere,” says Nikolić.

However, the analyst agrees that the distribution of directorships within the public companies in Belgrade on Friday did play a role in facilitating the signing of the declaration.

Failure to reach agreement there, he is certain, would have sent matters in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, he says that that agreement is just one of the factors that brought about the signing of the declaration.

“The SPS has nowhere to go. They have to find a new, younger electorate, if they hold on to their former electorate, they won’t make the parliamentary census and will cease to be a relevant party. It seems to me that they’ve thought out their path pretty well, to move towards the DS, which, together with them, is heading towards Europe, instead of heading to some kind of sideline, which, for instance, the DSS has chosen. I hope that they too will snap out of their autism and begin to take rational political decisions,” said Nikolić.

The reconciliation of the Socialists and the DS has received a mixed reaction among politicians.

Serb Progressive Party MP Aleksandar Vučić says that it is a pathetic farce that no-one in Serbia cares about.

The DSS insist that it is nothing but political marketing, while the SRS’s Gordana Pop Lazić says that the signing of the declaration constitutes reconciliation between those who broke up at the Eighth Session of the Serbian Communist Party’s Central Committee.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Čedomir Jovanović says that the reconciliation is a theatrical melodrama that Serbia has no need for.

New Serbia leader Velimir Ilić says that it a curious document that not even the late Zoran Đinđić would have approved of.

Meanwhile, DS and SPS leaders Boris Tadić and Ivica Dačić said that document was historic, and a step towards a broader political consensus over the most important state and national interests.

Tadić said that any party wanting a better future for Serbia's citizens and a resumption of the process of European integration and of the diplomatic endeavors to preserve Kosovo would be welcome to join.

“The declaration also constitutes a message to the international community that Serbia has left behind conflicts and confrontation, and entered a new political era,” he said.

“Political reconciliation should pave the way for national reconciliation too, as past conflicts were threatening the country with disintegration,” the DS leader said.

Dačić said that only a strong and politically stable Serbia could protect national interests, join the EU, and ensure economic development.

“This is not a media or political show, Serbia should turn away from the past for the sake of a better future,” he said.

“It was difficult to constitute the present government as the SPS and DS symbolized the powers that ruled Serbia before and after October 5, 2000, but this declaration formally consigns this symbolic antagonism to the past,” he said.