Serbia plunges into political debate as EU postpones membership ruling

Serbia plunges into political debate as EU postpones membership ruling
The news that the European Union on Friday postponed its decision on Serbia's membership candidacy plunged the country once again into a feverish political debate about Serbia's place in Europe and its future.

For the ruling political coalition, the fact that the EU had not rejected Serbia remained a consolation prize, a source of hope for a positive outcome by February 2012. However, the political fallout came swiftly with the immediate resignation of Bozidar Djelic, Deputy Prime for European Integration.

Djelic said he was resigning because the postponement was "not what Serbia expected" and to honor a pledge he made earlier if the country did not receive candidate status by year's end. He denied, however, that the country should alter its pro-EU position or current political course.

"We must continue to protect the EU and our citizens on Kosovo," said Djelic, of the two seemingly contradictory elements of the current government's policy.

Serbian President Boris Tadic called the postponement a "stumble" but not "a defeat" on the road toward European integration. He offered his citizens of vision of a European future, while maintaining its policies toward Kosovo.

"Serbia belongs to Europe, culturally, economically, as well as in the domain of politics, security, and any other terms," Tadic said at a news conference.

"Serbia has its legitimate rights in Kosovo and citizens should not hide from the truth that our policy in Kosovo today has crossed with our interests of becoming EU members," said Tadic.

All the leading EU member states and the United States have recognized the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo, while Serbia maintains it is legally its southern province, referencing UN Resolution 1244, which formed the basis of the international administration in Kosovo after 1999.

Proponents of EU membership for Serbia have taken solace in the fact that Serbia had not been rejected, and allude to the ever expanding economic crisis in the Eurozone, which is threatening the foundations of the EU, as the dominant factor.

Nonetheless, for most opposition parties, the postponement was seen as a failure of the current government to achieve its goal of maintaining the territorial integrity of Serbia while moving toward European integration.

Tomislav Nikolic, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), the largest opposition party in the country and a proponent of EU integration, called for early elections, saying it was a setback for the ruling coalition. He said elections were required "to restore trust."

Meanwhile, former Serbian President Vojislav Kostunica of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) characterized the postponement as an opportunity for the country to reassess its national agenda, and instead seek military, economic and political neutrality rather than EU membership. He also called for parliament to be dissolved.

Vuk Draskovic, president of the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), said the intervening months would provide Serbia with breathing space to meet additional requirements for candidate status, in particular regional cooperation with Kosovo.

Editor: Mo Hong'e

English.news.cn   2011-12-10 09:35:32              
BELGRADE, Dec. 9 (Xinhua)