LDP withdraws from cabinet talks; leader explains why

The Socialists "provoked the LDP over the past 50 days of government talks so as to get an alibi to switch to the side of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS)". This was heard on Wednesday from Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic, who was a guest on a B92 TV program. LDP withdraws from cabinet talks; leader explains why Jovanovic further accused Dacic of behaving "irresponsibly both toward (Tomislav) Nikolic and (Boris) Tadic during the talks, and observed that the leader of the SPS was now "doing the same thing to Tadic that he four years ago did to (DSS leader Vojislav) Kostunica". According to Jovanovic, "it is a fact that prime minister will come from the SPS", but that he was not in favor of "fear-mongering". Dacic's government, he further stated, would have his "absolute support in case he conducts the policy of Serbia's integration into the EU, develop market economy and assert human rights and civil freedoms, but it would be severely criticized otherwise". When asked why LDP decided to withdraw from the negotiations now, Jovanovic said that all deadlines to which the LDP had agreed had expired. Pointing out that no information was released as regards the situation which Serbia is facing during the talks on the government and the way in which the problems would be resolved, Jovanovic reiterated that DS was to blame for the disorientation in the country and that the responsibility for the wrong path falls on the shoulders of SPS - "as was the case in the 1990s". When asked how much interest the international community has in the matter of government constitution and what kind of influence Russia exerts in this matter, Jovanovic said that there was no dilemma that Europe has a different stand regarding the outcome of the elections than was the case four years ago and that it is a fact that Europe does not have a reliable partner in Serbia since there were too many politicians whose thoughts, words and actions did not match. As for Dacic's close ties with Russia, Jovanovic said he was interested in "the consequences of this excessive closeness", and explained that he wished to see if they would result in "some new privatization, some new NIS, and relations that have so far created great damage and consequences". Serbia will on Thursday mark one of the nation's most significant holidays, St. Vitus (Vidovdan), and the LDP leader commented on that coincidence: "I do not wish for this Vidovdan to be remembered as a dramatic day. I do not think anything dramatic or special happened. Whether it's one party or the other in power - that's nothing dramatic". The LDP announced earlier on Wednesday that it had given up on taking part in further attempts to form a new government a month after it reached an agreement in principle with the DS on the new government’s priorities. Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic was expected to make a statement about the agreement but Jovanovic said that he had requested more time. The LDP leader said in a written statement that the DS had asked for understanding for another prolongation of the decision and for additional time requested by Dacic four days earlier. “The time has run out and self-deception before the fact or postponing of an imminent break-up would only deepen the problems of the country in which not a single institution is functioning at the moment,” Jovanovic explained. He noted that elementary political honesty obligated the LDP to say that the time had come to end the bad political show. The LDP leader also accused the DS of being responsible for the disorientation of the country and inability of the people to realize the severity of the situation Serbia was in. Jovanovic accused the SPS of being responsible for the continuation of the agony and choice of the wrong pathway, just like in the 90s. Cedomir Jovanovic (Tanjug, file) B92 Tanjug

LDP withdraws from cabinet talks; leader explains why

Jovanović further accused Dačić of behaving "irresponsibly both toward (Tomislav) Nikolić and (Boris) Tadić during the talks, and observed that the leader of the SPS was now "doing the same thing to Tadić that he four years ago did to (DSS leader Vojislav) Koštunica".

According to Jovanović, "it is a fact that prime minister will come from the SPS", but that he was not in favor of "fear-mongering".

Dačić's government, he further stated, would have his "absolute support in case he conducts the policy of Serbia's integration into the EU, develop market economy and assert human rights and civil freedoms, but it would be severely criticized otherwise".

When asked why LDP decided to withdraw from the negotiations now, Jovanović said that all deadlines to which the LDP had agreed had expired.

Pointing out that no information was released as regards the situation which Serbia is facing during the talks on the government and the way in which the problems would be resolved, Jovanović reiterated that DS was to blame for the disorientation in the country and that the responsibility for the wrong path falls on the shoulders of SPS - "as was the case in the 1990s".

When asked how much interest the international community has in the matter of government constitution and what kind of influence Russia exerts in this matter, Jovanović said that there was no dilemma that Europe has a different stand regarding the outcome of the elections than was the case four years ago and that it is a fact that Europe does not have a reliable partner in Serbia since there were too many politicians whose thoughts, words and actions did not match.

As for Dačić's close ties with Russia, Jovanović said he was interested in "the consequences of this excessive closeness", and explained that he wished to see if they would result in "some new privatization, some new NIS, and relations that have so far created great damage and consequences".

Serbia will on Thursday mark one of the nation's most significant holidays, St. Vitus (Vidovdan), and the LDP leader commented on that coincidence:

"I do not wish for this Vidovdan to be remembered as a dramatic day. I do not think anything dramatic or special happened. Whether it's one party or the other in power - that's nothing dramatic".

The LDP announced earlier on Wednesday that it had given up on taking part in further attempts to form a new government a month after it reached an agreement in principle with the DS on the new government’s priorities.

Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dačić was expected to make a statement about the agreement but Jovanović said that he had requested more time.

The LDP leader said in a written statement that the DS had asked for understanding for another prolongation of the decision and for additional time requested by Dačić four days earlier.

“The time has run out and self-deception before the fact or postponing of an imminent break-up would only deepen the problems of the country in which not a single institution is functioning at the moment,” Jovanović explained.

He noted that elementary political honesty obligated the LDP to say that the time had come to end the bad political show.

The LDP leader also accused the DS of being responsible for the disorientation of the country and inability of the people to realize the severity of the situation Serbia was in.

Jovanović accused the SPS of being responsible for the continuation of the agony and choice of the wrong pathway, just like in the 90s.