Region reacts to election of new Serbian government

PODGORICA, TARA, ZAGREB Montenegrin officials and opposition leaders expect that the new Serbian government will be committed to improving relations between the two countries. Senior official of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Miodrag Vukovic told Tanjug that Podgorica expects that the new Serbian government will work on improving relations with Montenegro. Region reacts to election of new Serbian government We expect the government of Serbia to be dedicated to the elimination of all those things that are damaging those relations, said Vukovic. He expressed hope that the new executive power in Serbia will be devoted to European integration of the region, and to developing good-neighborly cooperation. He recalled the assessment of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic that relations between Podgorica and Belgrade are below the level that they deserve. Vice-President of the leading opposition party, the Socialist People's Party, Vasilije Lalosevic also expressed his expectation for the promotion of relations between Serbia and Montenegro in the future, to the satisfaction of the citizens of two states. He is convinced of the close relations between Montenegro and Serbia, with mutual respect and equality, and expects that the new Serbian government will show "the continuity of European policy". Meanwhile, the newly elected cabinet of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic received messages from other regional leaders, including Serb Republic (RS) President Milorad Dodik, and Croatian PM Zoran Milanovic. Dodik - who during the election campaign in Serbia actively supported the now opposition Democratic Party (DS) - congratulated the Serbian people on the new government, and wished it success in solving the country's "accumulated problems". He also expressed his expectation that Dacic's cabinet would continue to cooperate with the Serb entity in Bosnia as part of their special relations. Dodik made the statement as he was visiting a children's summer camp on Mt. Tara, in western Serbia, along with former president and DS leader Boris Tadic. In Zagreb, Croatian Premier Milanovic congratulated Dacic and the new Serbian government and said his country was firmly committed to continuing cooperation with Serbia, and developing good neighborly relations with the goal of achieving common interests. He also stated that Croatia would support Serbia in its bid to join the EU, and wished "Dacic and the citizens of Serbia success on the road of European integration". The foreign minister in his cabinet, Vesna Pusic, congratulated her Serbian counterpart Ivan Mrakic in a brief telephone conversation on Friday, said reports. The two ministers "expressed their desire and readiness to continue cooperation as part of the bilateral relations and regional stability, as well as in the area of European integrations". B92 Beta Tanjug

Region reacts to election of new Serbian government

We expect the government of Serbia to be dedicated to the elimination of all those things that are damaging those relations, said Vuković.

He expressed hope that the new executive power in Serbia will be devoted to European integration of the region, and to developing good-neighborly cooperation.

He recalled the assessment of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić that relations between Podgorica and Belgrade are below the level that they deserve.

Vice-President of the leading opposition party, the Socialist People's Party, Vasilije Lalošević also expressed his expectation for the promotion of relations between Serbia and Montenegro in the future, to the satisfaction of the citizens of two states.

He is convinced of the close relations between Montenegro and Serbia, with mutual respect and equality, and expects that the new Serbian government will show "the continuity of European policy".

Meanwhile, the newly elected cabinet of Prime Minister Ivica Dačić received messages from other regional leaders, including Serb Republic (RS) President Milorad Dodik, and Croatian PM Zoran Milanović.

Dodik - who during the election campaign in Serbia actively supported the now opposition Democratic Party (DS) - congratulated the Serbian people on the new government, and wished it success in solving the country's "accumulated problems".

He also expressed his expectation that Dačić's cabinet would continue to cooperate with the Serb entity in Bosnia as part of their special relations. Dodik made the statement as he was visiting a children's summer camp on Mt. Tara, in western Serbia, along with former president and DS leader Boris Tadić.

In Zagreb, Croatian Premier Milanović congratulated Dačić and the new Serbian government and said his country was firmly committed to continuing cooperation with Serbia, and developing good neighborly relations with the goal of achieving common interests.

He also stated that Croatia would support Serbia in its bid to join the EU, and wished "Dačić and the citizens of Serbia success on the road of European integration".

The foreign minister in his cabinet, Vesna Pusić, congratulated her Serbian counterpart Ivan Mrakić in a brief telephone conversation on Friday, said reports.

The two ministers "expressed their desire and readiness to continue cooperation as part of the bilateral relations and regional stability, as well as in the area of European integrations".