EP rapporteur's Vojvodina comment seen as "trial balloon"

BELGRADE Faculty of Political Sciences professor Predrag Simic says that Jelko Kacin's statement about Vojvodina was a "trial balloon" to test the mood in this country. Kacin, who is currently on a visit to Serbia in his role as rapporteur for the European parliament, said in an interview earlier this week that "it was time to open the question of the constitutional and legal regulation of the autonomy of (the province of) Vojvodina." EP rapporteur's Vojvodina comment seen as "trial balloon" This analyst noted that "it would be normal to say that this is a shocking statement" - and then added that, "on the other hand, we've been listening to similar messages for 20 years now." "Vojvodina will certainly be a topic that we will come across on the European road, if we finish Kosovo, because it is important for the countries of central Europe that gravitate toward Germany," Simic was quoted as saying. Kacin's statement also started a debate on where the boundaries lie which foreign politicians and diplomats should not cross. "What representatives of a country or the diplomatic corps are saying is one thing, while it is another when we hear something from parliamentarians, or, say, congressmen in the U.S. The latter allow themselves much more latitude. Kacin's statement should be looked at in that sense," Serbia's former ambassador in Washington, Ivan Vujacic, told the newspaper. The Progressive Club NGO led by historian Cedomir Antic reacted by asking the Serbian authorities to "apply measures of boycott" against the Slovenian politician and EP official - such as the ones that six years ago "shortened" the mandate of German Ambassador Andreas Zobel. "Zobel at the time spoke during a closed event to announce the breaking up of Serbia. Kacin has been speaking about his intentions, hatred, and prejudice, mostly in public. If the EU is sincere and well-meaning toward Serbia, its rapporteur of many years certainly does not have to be a former Slovenian war-time minister. We have been pointing for years to the efforts to - in the process of Serbia's accession to the EU - make Vojvodina more autonomous from the rest of Serbia, and finally turn it into an independent state," said Antic. "Early elections first" Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic (SNS) said on Wednesday that "at this point, we should first think about early elections in Vojvodina, and only then talk about everything else concerning the province." "At this point, it would be appropriate to think about elections in Vojvodina first, and then talk about everything else, even about the constitutional status of the province,” Selakovic told reporters, commenting Jelko Kacin's statement. Kacin said yesterday that, given the forthcoming negotiations on Serbia's membership in the EU, this is “the right time to open the question of the constitutional and legal framework for Vojvodina's autonomy,” which he deems to be “vague” as it is right now. Tanjug Vecernje novosti

EP rapporteur's Vojvodina comment seen as "trial balloon"

This analyst noted that "it would be normal to say that this is a shocking statement" - and then added that, "on the other hand, we've been listening to similar messages for 20 years now."

"Vojvodina will certainly be a topic that we will come across on the European road, if we finish Kosovo, because it is important for the countries of central Europe that gravitate toward Germany," Simić was quoted as saying.

Kacin's statement also started a debate on where the boundaries lie which foreign politicians and diplomats should not cross.

"What representatives of a country or the diplomatic corps are saying is one thing, while it is another when we hear something from parliamentarians, or, say, congressmen in the U.S. The latter allow themselves much more latitude. Kacin's statement should be looked at in that sense," Serbia's former ambassador in Washington, Ivan Vujačić, told the newspaper.

The Progressive Club NGO led by historian Čedomir Antić reacted by asking the Serbian authorities to "apply measures of boycott" against the Slovenian politician and EP official - such as the ones that six years ago "shortened" the mandate of German Ambassador Andreas Zobel.

"Zobel at the time spoke during a closed event to announce the breaking up of Serbia. Kacin has been speaking about his intentions, hatred, and prejudice, mostly in public. If the EU is sincere and well-meaning toward Serbia, its rapporteur of many years certainly does not have to be a former Slovenian war-time minister. We have been pointing for years to the efforts to - in the process of Serbia's accession to the EU - make Vojvodina more autonomous from the rest of Serbia, and finally turn it into an independent state," said Antić.

"Early elections first"

Justice Minister Nikola Selaković (SNS) said on Wednesday that "at this point, we should first think about early elections in Vojvodina, and only then talk about everything else concerning the province."

"At this point, it would be appropriate to think about elections in Vojvodina first, and then talk about everything else, even about the constitutional status of the province,” Selaković told reporters, commenting Jelko Kacin's statement.

Kacin said yesterday that, given the forthcoming negotiations on Serbia's membership in the EU, this is “the right time to open the question of the constitutional and legal framework for Vojvodina's autonomy,” which he deems to be “vague” as it is right now.