Dačić discusses differences within his party

Dačić discusses differences within his party

His comments came after some high ranking SPS officials, including Branko Ružić and Milutin Mrkonjić, came under criticism for their statements about the current government - in which the SPS is a junior partner to the Progressives (SNS), led by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.

Dačić told B92 on Friday that he had "nothing against someone in the SPS having stances different than his or those of the government of Serbia," but that such a person then should "take him on at the party congress."

Still, he pointed out he was convinced that if the issue of taking the SPS to the opposition were put up for a vote in the party, "the outcome would be clear - everyone would be in favor of staying in the government."

Dačić said that he had "no problem with Ružić," that their communication was "normal," and that he offered this SPS official and former cabinet member "brotherly advice on everything" - including when he advised him against his recent appearance on B92 TV talk show Impression of the Week ("Utisak Nedelje"):

"I told him that was wrong, because if he did no wish to defend the government, he should not participate somewhere where the government will be attacked. Still, these are internal party matters. I am flabbergasted by such appreciation of the importance of Branko Ružić - with all due respect. This is a young man, and politics should be done with one's head, not some other body parts. If he has a different opinion, let him stand against me, he cannot criticize from his office. By the way, I would not describe his appearance in that show as oppositional, those were more his personal views."

As for Mrkonjić - who voiced his support for Ružić by posting messages on his Twitter account - Dačić asked "whether people really believe that Mrkonjić knows how to log in to Twitter."

"So forget about the Che Guevara stories, that's my message to them, and also perhaps to some other people - it's legitimate to talk about everything, but the alternatives must be considered," said Dačić.

Some believe that the internal differences that emerged within the SPS came about because of Dačić's "servile attitude" toward the SNS - which allegedly resulted in suppressing his party's "socialist ideology." This refers, above all, to the controversial new Labor Law.

"Why didn't you think when you voted? Vučić said there would be difficult and painful reforms, and that's what will happen. I invited trade unions into the coalition, I said we would defend their rights - they didn't even want to hear about it. I could now set myself on fire at Terazije (square in Belgrade), but that law will pass. We are trying to help, but in a way that's possible, with such support," the SPS leader and cabinet minister remarked.

Another issue where his stance toward the SNS was mentioned was the police reform and the recent dismissal of MUP's department chiefs. Dačić, who previously served as interior minister, said the changes were "a good thing," and that he supported them, but would not directly name those who were against in the past two years, stressing, however, that "the political will was lacking during that period," as he "stood alone."

As for the time before 2012, he directly accused the then ruling Democratic Party and its leader and Serbia's former president Boris Tadić, saying that it was "a well-known fact the DS demanded that Milorad Veljović should stay on as police director."

"The stories that I prevented MUP reforms in any way are ridiculous. Boris Tadić should be ashamed of what he's saying. Miki (Miodrag) Rakić and he controlled the Council for National Security and the Bureau (for Coordination of Security Services). Well, 90 percent of our fights revolved around the reason why Veljović would go over my head and inform them first about something, or plan some operations with them, rather than with his minister. I will not accept the responsibility, and to now hear those who defended them and kept them in office talk about it - because they thought I would bring my people instead."

"Because of such things," Dačić asserted, "it is best that the police minister comes from the largest party."

"My position was impossible and untenable, because I came from a smaller party. Tadić suggested the position to me and at the time I got angry and didn't want to accept," he told B92.

He then accused the media outlet of being among those who "took articles from the police, fabricated affairs because of his stances, and published official secrets."

Dačić then addressed the issue of "the policy toward the situation in Kosovo," to say that it was "wrong in the previous period," as it, in his words, "had a concept without the consequences":

"Our concept was that we 'do not recognize Kosovo's independence.' We have that in writing, we say it for the sake of saying it, and that is also what the international community thinks. Now we are not speaking in that way, but are instead active participants in a process, which we have not been before. Our task is to find and look for solutions, and our main trump card is the UN. They can get membership in international organizations but not in the UN, not without agreement of those countries who share our position."

Serbia is interested in continuing the dialogue with Priština, he noted, and added that this "depends on the formation of authorities in Priština," and that Serbia was "suffering because of the situation, above all in EU accession talks, because it cannot open Chapter 35."

Dačić then said that "Kosovo's independence was a creeping process."

Speaking about a possible visit to Serbia of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, he said it would be "useful for Serbia," and criticized those who reacted negatively to the possibility.

Dačić also said there was "understanding in the government for his idea about the pope's visit to Serbia."

"The Vatican has not recognized Kosovo. Christian tradition and culture are under threat in Kosovo. Do we want the Vatican on our side, or on the side of Kosovo's independence," he asked.

Dačić stressed that he was "interested in what the Serbian Orthodox Church thinks about a possible visit," but suggested that "a way to avoid possible problems related to it" might be what was done in Greece - where the government invited the pope to visit.