"Significant level of agreement with Tadić"

"Significant level of agreement with Tadić"

"We will continue the talks during the weekend," he told a news conference. The focus of the discussion was on the plan and program and what is important for Serbia's future, he explained.

The situation in Serbia, work that lies before the country, needed reforms, fiscal consolidation and creation of a healthy economy were thoroughly covered at the meeting, Vučić noted.

"The government should be a serious team and everyone should keep in mind the vital national interests, regardless of whether we are in power or opposition," he pointed out.

Besides Tadić, the meeting was also attended by President of Together for Serbia Dušan Petrović and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Vojvodina Nenad Čanak, who were on the NDS coalition slate for the parliamentary election.

Vučić was accompanied by SNS officials Jadranka Joksimović, Radomir Nikolićc and Igor Mirović. The meeting was held at the SNS headquarters.

The SNS started the negotiations on forming the government on Monday with a meeting with officials of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, who were then invited to take part in the new government. Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dačić met with SNS officials on Tuesday and the talks with him should continue.

According to the Večernje Novosti daily, all parliamentary parties except the DS "will have a chance to contribute to the work of the new ruling coalition, although they will not all be represented in the government."

Future Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić has said that his idea was to form as broad as possible social and political front for reforms that will follow.

Tadić said on Tuesday that the national and strategic objectives of his party and the SNS were no different, and that he was ready to talk about the way to achieve these goals, but reiterated that his party considers joining a government along with the Socialists to be "counterproductive."

As the things stand now, Vučić will discuss the names of future ministers over the weekend with his party's officials, "and then with everyone else."

President of the SDPS Rasim Ljajić can count on a cabinet seat again, as well as Minister of Finance Lazar Krstić, as Vučić has repeatedly said that he wants Krstić to stay.

Vučić previously said that talks were also being held with non-partisan figures, while his cabinet should be formed by April 25 and have up to 19 members, which would make it the smallest in Serbia's recent political history.

"Everyone must contribute"

President of the New Democratic Party (NDS) Boris Tadić said Thursday that Serbia has arrived at a historical moment when its government and opposition must work together to solve social and economic problems, noting that his party will act accordingly regardless of whether it is part of the ruling coalition or remains in the opposition.

“There are circumstances when countries face historical temptations and the (new Serbian) government will have to make difficult decisions, and it will not be able to do that if 'the position' approaches the process demagogically,” Tadić told a press conference after talks about government creation he had with Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Aleksandar Vučić.

Tadić said he is very pleased with today's discussion, because they focused on crucial problems of society and the way in which they have to be resolved, adding that the talks on possible cooperation between the SNS and NDS will resume the next day.

He said the meeting focused almost entirely on economic and existential issues and it showed that the two parties have the highest level of agreement on these issues.

“We did not strike a deal on the NDS' participation in the government before the elections, but we had a fair debate. We will continue the talks about whether the NDS will join the government or be in the opposition. Most importantly, we share common ground on issues facing society and the way in which they need to be resolved,” Tadić said.

Answering reporters' questions about his opinions concerning the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and its possible participation in the government, Tadić said that the Socialists' presence in the government would not add any strength to its capacity to make economically motivated and sustainable decisions.

“This is a crucial question and an opportunity for Serbia's economic development. The solution is not to have everybody in the government as such a government cannot be functional. The government has to share a team spirit - in personally, politically and ideologically,” Tadić said, adding that today's talks also touched on some bad decisions from the past that failed to contribute to a sustainable economic development of the country.