“Parliament could discuss Kosovo resolution Friday”

BELGRADE Serbian parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic has said that he could schedule a session to debate a resolution on Kosovo next Friday. The session will be held on Friday if the government first adopts the document. “Parliament could discuss Kosovo resolution Friday” Stefanovic expressed belief that a wide political consensus would be reached on the resolution. “I believe that the document that will arrive in parliament be acceptable for a large number of opposition MPs as well,” he told daily Vecernje novosti. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic told Beta new agency that a joint session of the government and President Tomislav Nikolic on the resolution and further talks between Belgrade and Pristina would be held on Tuesday. When asked whether the draft resolution would be open for amendments or it would be sent to MPs as a final document, the speaker said that it depended on a form of the text that the government would sent to MPs. “Consultation with President Tomislav Nikolic served to familiarize opposition parties with the essence of the platform and for them to give their suggestions. But we are yet to see whether the resolution will be open for amendments during the session,” he explained. When asked how he could be so optimistic, bearing in mind that the opposition representatives had made numerous objections to the platform, Stefanovic said: “I am optimistic because I truly believe that nobody will use the issue of Kosovo and Metohija to score cheap political points. This is a very important state and national subject and that is why it would be necessary to reach a wide unity. I believe that the draft that will arrive in parliament will be acceptable for a large number of opposition MPs as well.” When asked whether there would be a new round of consultations with whips and the president, he said that he did not have any information about that but added that he would schedule consultations with all whips once the government has sent the document. According to the speaker, parliament is ready to quickly hold a special session on Kosovo. “We are ready to work night and day if necessary,” Stefanovic noted. When asked whether early parliamentary elections would be held and if they would suit the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), bearing the party’s rise in rating, he said: “We will be in the ruling majority as long as the government is fighting against corruption and crime, as long as economic reforms are implemented and as long as big steps toward the EU and better life of citizens are made. The moment we feel that the ruling majority no longer can contribute to a better life of citizens, the need to be apart of the coalition will cease to exist. We will never be ready to give up on our principles for the sake of partisan calculations. And the fact is that we currently have support among people like all other parties combined.” Nebojsa Stefanovic (Tanjug, file) Beta Vecernje novosti

“Parliament could discuss Kosovo resolution Friday”

Stefanović expressed belief that a wide political consensus would be reached on the resolution.

“I believe that the document that will arrive in parliament be acceptable for a large number of opposition MPs as well,” he told daily Večernje novosti.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić told Beta new agency that a joint session of the government and President Tomislav Nikolić on the resolution and further talks between Belgrade and Priština would be held on Tuesday.

When asked whether the draft resolution would be open for amendments or it would be sent to MPs as a final document, the speaker said that it depended on a form of the text that the government would sent to MPs.

“Consultation with President Tomislav Nikolić served to familiarize opposition parties with the essence of the platform and for them to give their suggestions. But we are yet to see whether the resolution will be open for amendments during the session,” he explained.

When asked how he could be so optimistic, bearing in mind that the opposition representatives had made numerous objections to the platform, Stefanović said:

“I am optimistic because I truly believe that nobody will use the issue of Kosovo and Metohija to score cheap political points. This is a very important state and national subject and that is why it would be necessary to reach a wide unity. I believe that the draft that will arrive in parliament will be acceptable for a large number of opposition MPs as well.”

When asked whether there would be a new round of consultations with whips and the president, he said that he did not have any information about that but added that he would schedule consultations with all whips once the government has sent the document.

According to the speaker, parliament is ready to quickly hold a special session on Kosovo.

“We are ready to work night and day if necessary,” Stefanović noted.

When asked whether early parliamentary elections would be held and if they would suit the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), bearing the party’s rise in rating, he said:

“We will be in the ruling majority as long as the government is fighting against corruption and crime, as long as economic reforms are implemented and as long as big steps toward the EU and better life of citizens are made. The moment we feel that the ruling majority no longer can contribute to a better life of citizens, the need to be apart of the coalition will cease to exist. We will never be ready to give up on our principles for the sake of partisan calculations. And the fact is that we currently have support among people like all other parties combined.”