DSS Delivers Ultimatum while Government Stalemate

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000162 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EUN SR XG SUBJECT: DSS Delivers Ultimatum while Government Stalemate Continues REFS: A) BELGRADE 146 B) BELGRADE 143 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In the ongoing political stalemate in Serbia's government (reftels),Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) has presented a clear ultimatum to President Boris Tadic and his Democratic Party (DS): Compromise is only possible if the DS fully renounces its intention to sign the Interim Political Agreement with the EU. Serbian Radical Party (SRS) leader, Tomislav Nikolic, continues to watch on the sidelines, saying his is not interested in being in government. Pundits and press continue to debate the government gridlock, but Tadic and Kostunica have yet to meet, leaving the situation unresolved in the near term. End Summary. DSS Ultimatum: No Agreement with EU -------------- ¶2. (U) Kostunica supporters and DSS insiders have clearly stated that the only resolution to the current government stalemate would require the DS to renounce its intention to sign the Interim Political Agreement (IPA) with the EU. Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardzic (DSS) said to find compromise, the DS needed to refrain from signing the IPA. "That is the only precondition needed to come up with an agreement (between DS and DSS)," Samardzic said on February 10, on the political talk show "Utisak Nedelje." Otherwise, Serbia would most likely move towards new parliamentary elections, he said. Nikolic Still on the Sidelines -------------- ¶3. (U) The leader of the Serbian Radical Party, Tomislav Nikolic continues to watch the crisis from afar, disavowing any interest in joining government right now. On February 6, Nikolic told Radio Beograd that he saw no reason to meet with Tadic and rejected the possibility of SRS supporting a possible new DSS and New Serbia (NS) coalition government. "We find it senseless to support those who are not certain of how many supporters they have," (referring to DSS). "The problem is within the government itself. Until this is resolved, until we see what will happen to Serbia and Kosovo, I have nothing to talk about with Tadic nor with Kostunica," Nikolic said. On February 9 Nikolic repeated that the SRS is not in consultations with either party and encouraged the DS and DSS to end their stalemate for the sake of Serbia. Nikolic told Vesti on February 9, "I do not want to be in the government, but I will give them my support in Parliament as long as the government defends Kosovo." Still No Meeting between President and PM -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In an effort to break the logjam, President Tadic said he would meet on Monday with PM Kostunica and Speaker of Parliament Oliver Dulic (DS),media reported on February 10. However, as of midday February 11, the two sides had not yet met. Dulic's Foreign Policy Advisor, Lidija Vasiljevic, told poloff on February 11 that the DS and DSS leaders had yet to meet and no time had yet been confirmed. Dulic also postponed meeting with the party whips in parliament until after the Tadic and Kostunica meeting and after a meeting of the President's National Security Council, media reported. However Vasiljevic, confirmed to poloff that this parliamentary meeting has not yet been confirmed. The Liberal Democratic Party, in a February 11 statement, condemned the delay of these parliamentary meetings, claiming it was an indication of the ongoing destruction of state institutions and the weakness of Serbia's government. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In delivering a clear public ultimatum to the DS, the DSS is insisting that political compromise is only possible if Tadic gives up on an interim agreement with the EU, which was a key campaign promise in his reelection for President just a week ago. Neither party appears to have a politically acceptable solution to hold the government together, and the SRS claims it is not interested in entering government on the eve of a decision on Kosovo. For now, the stalemate lingers in the media, as politicians continue with this Serbian soap opera of their own making. End Comment. BRUSH