UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001967

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL SR
SUBJECT: DS KICKS OFF FORWARD-LOOKING ELECTION CAMPAIGN

SUMMARY
--------------

1. (U) Boris Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) officially
launched its parliamentary campaign at a high energy,
American style convention gathering on December 4 in
Belgrade. Against a stage filled with the 250 delegates on
its electoral list, speakers were brief but energizing with
Tadic delivering a rousing address focused on Serbia's
economic future (and not a word about Kosovo). The media
images were in dramatic contrast to the gloom and doom
provided by the Radicals and Socialists in their weekend
campaign kick-offs.


2. (U) Amidst much fanfare, President Tadic's Democratic
Party kicked off their campaign for the upcoming Serbian
parliamentary elections on Sunday with a flashy rally to
introduce their parliamentary candidates as well as their
election campaign program, headed by the slogan "A Better
Life for Serbia." An energized crowd of about 3000, which
included representatives of Serbian cultural and public
life, members of the diplomatic community, and enthusiastic
DS and Sandzak Democratic Party (SDP) supporters (SDP is
running on the DS list), watched as all 250 MP candidates
were announced and paraded in (in reverse order of the
electoral list). Speeches by party rank and file like
Djindjic government Finance Minister Bozidar Djelic, PM
Djindjic's widow, Ruzica Djindjic, and Tadic himself, were
forward looking and energetic emphasizing democratic and
economic reform and European integration as the path to a
modern, stable Serbia and a better life for "the average
citizen."

SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS
--------------

3. (U) Djelic gave a rousing address, jogging up to the
stage in true American fashion and detailing five post-
election priorities for the party: (1) a national
competition for the 1000 best Serbian business plans, (2)
the establishment of a ministry for telecommunications,
information technology, and the internet, (3) the creation
of a state fund for scholarships, (4) the development of a
society in solidarity, and (5) privatization. Rasim Ljajic
was equally inspirational, drawing repeated cheers from
enthusiastic SDP supporters, and emphasizing the commitment
of the DS to diversity and rights for all social groups,
and pointing out that the electoral list

includes
representatives from all national ethnic minorities. An
unexpected participant at the rally, Republika Srpska Prime
Minister Milorad Dodik, expressed his hope that the DS
would triumph on January 21st and ensure that the Radicals
would become a "part of the past" in Serbia. Ruzica
Djindjic took a loftier route, emphasizing that the
upcoming election is a "test of our awareness and
consciousness of the future, a test of responsibility..."

TADIC: FIRED UP
--------------

4. (U) In an energized speech, President Tadic said that
his party will fight for the realization of its "simple
ideals" - a higher standard of living for citizens, a
better economy, and European integration. He alluded to
Serbia's recent invitation to PfP as a concrete step toward
achievement of these ideals, one which proves that there
are "no unattainable goals." Additionally, Tadic said he
considered issues of the youth to be of particular
importance in this election. Saying that the citizens of
Serbia have been "victims of a false patriotism," he said
that the DS has clear goals and a clear vision which will
lead to a "patriotism of security and peace for each
person."

DJINDJIC'S LEGACY
--------------

5. (U) Throughout the rally, the party drew on the legacy
of assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic as a model of
their hope for the future of Serbia. Djelic recalled
Djindjic's strong economic reforms. Djindjic's wife,
Ruzica, who heads the DS electoral list, said that in the
aftermath of her husband's death, she felt a loss of hope
and ideals, but later found that the "underlying strength
that keeps us moving toward democratic changes" had not
been lost. Tadic also called upon the memory of Djindjic,
referring to him as an inspiration, someone who "always
knew how to solve problems and not look back, who knew how
to compromise and sacrifice without sacrificing or
compromising values."

COMMENT
--------------

6. (SBU) The DS convention was a welcome counterpoint to
the anti-Hague, anti-US, anti-West diatribes that were
simultaneously launching the Radicals' and Socialists'
campaign. While there were ample references to patriotism

BELGRADE 00001967 002 OF 002


and national pride, there was no mention of Kosovo and none
of the ominous warnings that have characterized the DSS
campaign. As Ljajic pointed out in his speech, perhaps the
biggest challenge for the DS in the forthcoming elections
will be to overcome "the biggest party in Serbia - those
who abstain from voting." Within the next few weeks, the
party plans to release a very specific plan detailing its
proposed post-election improvements for all parts of
Serbia, seeking to reach out to citizens through the
country in an effort to show how the party will practically
improve their lives. End Comment.

POLT