Progressives, Koštunica's party "would make natural allies"

SNS party leader Tomislav Nikolic has described Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) as their "natural post-election partners for talks". The leader of the opposition party that polls as the country's most popular - who is himself running in the presidential election - noted that "all other parties come from the former government that has shown poor leadership at the helm of the state". Progressives, Kostunica's party "would make natural allies" "The DSS is the partner that we will talk to. Whether they wish to talk to us - that I don't know," Nikolic said. Commenting on the anti-EU views held by the DSS, Nikolic stated that he was in favor of "a Europe that wants Serbia", and that he believed that while in power, the Kostunica party held the same stance: "Today they are attacking the Stabilization and Association Agreement, but it was initialed during their time (in office)," said Nikolic, adding that he was "not in favor of Europe at any cost". He noted that joining the EU "could bring better standard of living, but also a condition that we cannot meet". "However, until that condition (appears) we can continue developing the country," Nikolic was quoted as saying. He at the same time ruled out the possibility of cooperation with Cedomir Jovanovic's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS), led by Mladjan Dinkic. He accused the LDP of "wishing to recognize Kosovo as independent, and being against the Serb Republic (RS)". As for Dinkic's URS - which now incorporates G17 Plus - Nikolic said this party was involved in "laying waste to Serbia": "Had this URS been set up a month ago and entered this campaign, judging from what can be seen and what they stand for, they would make a truly desirable partner, but this is a party that has been laying waste to Serbia for the past 12 years. Today they advocate all the values they never implemented while they were in power, and it's particularly cynical of them to be against 'partisan jobs' now." Speaking on Wednesday, Nikolic also sent a message to parties representing the country's ethnic minorities, saying the Progressives would participate in a future government along with them - "because in that way they could best care about their people". Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug, file) Beta

Progressives, Koštunica's party "would make natural allies"

"The DSS is the partner that we will talk to. Whether they wish to talk to us - that I don't know," Nikolić said.

Commenting on the anti-EU views held by the DSS, Nikolić stated that he was in favor of "a Europe that wants Serbia", and that he believed that while in power, the Koštunica party held the same stance:

"Today they are attacking the Stabilization and Association Agreement, but it was initialed during their time (in office)," said Nikolić, adding that he was "not in favor of Europe at any cost".

He noted that joining the EU "could bring better standard of living, but also a condition that we cannot meet".

"However, until that condition (appears) we can continue developing the country," Nikolić was quoted as saying.

He at the same time ruled out the possibility of cooperation with Čedomir Jovanović's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS), led by Mlađan Dinkić.

He accused the LDP of "wishing to recognize Kosovo as independent, and being against the Serb Republic (RS)".

As for Dinkić's URS - which now incorporates G17 Plus - Nikolić said this party was involved in "laying waste to Serbia":

"Had this URS been set up a month ago and entered this campaign, judging from what can be seen and what they stand for, they would make a truly desirable partner, but this is a party that has been laying waste to Serbia for the past 12 years. Today they advocate all the values they never implemented while they were in power, and it's particularly cynical of them to be against 'partisan jobs' now."

Speaking on Wednesday, Nikolić also sent a message to parties representing the country's ethnic minorities, saying the Progressives would participate in a future government along with them - "because in that way they could best care about their people".