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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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