Minister advises against "playing EU card"

The ruling coalition should not count on getting the EU candidate status by the end of the year, said Labor and Social Policy Minister Rasim Ljajic. "The ruling coalition should not expect that obtaining an EU candidate status by the end of 2011 will secure its victory in the next elections," he told Belgrade-based daily Blic. Minister advises against "playing EU card" Ljajic said that he personally did not expect to gain any points, and noted that the status would mark an important step on Serbia's EU pathway, but that the ruling coalition should not treat it as “ace up their sleeve”. “The candidate status is important in terms of the country's accession process, which in this way becomes irreversible, but treating it as ‘ace in the hole’ would be a mistake. If we want to win the elections, we must tackle concrete issues,” he said. “Given the current economic situation, the success in the next elections is bound to depend on the citizens' economic and social position, and no matter which party has been in power over this period of time, its position would be less favorable than that of the opposition,” the labor minister said pointing out that the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), the strongest opposition party at the moment, was floating on the wave of public discontent. Ljajic underlined that the government should continue with reforms, however painful they might be. “We have to continue with the EU accession process, but first of all we have to improve the citizens' standard of living. We cannot promise a dramatic improvement, but I think that certain betterment is possible,” Ljajic added. Commenting on the elections, the minister said that Serbia “will be approaching the date of the regular general elections after May”, but added that he did not think that calling elections three months before or after that period would be of any consequence. “What is more important is that an agreement is reached on the date, which would leave ample time to solve open issues. Everyone seems to be focused on the date of the elections, while forgetting that there is a lot of unfinished work. Everything is at a standstill,” he underscored. Asked if he would sit together with SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic in some future government, Ljajic said that he did not want to be a part of the government at any cost. “We would not form a government at any cost. As long as we are part of the ruling coalition, we will share the good and bad times with the others. However, I doubt that we would run for the next elections together,” the labor minister concluded. Rasim Ljajic (file)

Minister advises against "playing EU card"

Ljajić said that he personally did not expect to gain any points, and noted that the status would mark an important step on Serbia's EU pathway, but that the ruling coalition should not treat it as “ace up their sleeve”.

“The candidate status is important in terms of the country's accession process, which in this way becomes irreversible, but treating it as ‘ace in the hole’ would be a mistake. If we want to win the elections, we must tackle concrete issues,” he said.

“Given the current economic situation, the success in the next elections is bound to depend on the citizens' economic and social position, and no matter which party has been in power over this period of time, its position would be less favorable than that of the opposition,” the labor minister said pointing out that the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), the strongest opposition party at the moment, was floating on the wave of public discontent.

Ljajić underlined that the government should continue with reforms, however painful they might be.

“We have to continue with the EU accession process, but first of all we have to improve the citizens' standard of living. We cannot promise a dramatic improvement, but I think that certain betterment is possible,” Ljajić added.

Commenting on the elections, the minister said that Serbia “will be approaching the date of the regular general elections after May”, but added that he did not think that calling elections three months before or after that period would be of any consequence.

“What is more important is that an agreement is reached on the date, which would leave ample time to solve open issues. Everyone seems to be focused on the date of the elections, while forgetting that there is a lot of unfinished work. Everything is at a standstill,” he underscored.

Asked if he would sit together with SNS leader Tomislav Nikolić in some future government, Ljajić said that he did not want to be a part of the government at any cost.

“We would not form a government at any cost. As long as we are part of the ruling coalition, we will share the good and bad times with the others. However, I doubt that we would run for the next elections together,” the labor minister concluded.