Serb PM proposes referendum on EU

[Crvena zvezda]

DSS calls for EU referendum 5 March 2008
Andreja Mladenović (FoNet, archive)

The DSS believes a referendum should be held on whether Serbia should enter the EU with or without Kosovo, says a party spokesman.

Andreja Mladenović told Tanjug that the referendum’s question would have to be entirely fair and democratic, and that it would have to be the result of a consensus between the parliamentary parties.

“Since all the parliamentary parties in Serbia support the country's EU membership, there is no reason to organize a referendum on whether or not we want to be part of the EU, but rather, we should rather organize such a referendum that would resolve the existing problem - whether we will join the EU with or without Kosovo,” Mladenović explained.

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) spokesman said that “official policy thus far has been that Kosovo is Serbia and that we will join the EU with Kosovo as a constituent part.”

“It would be very important for citizens to confirm this official policy at a fair and democratic referendum,” he said.

The DSS, according to Mladenović, would launch inter-party talks to establish whether the idea of a referendum was acceptable, and whether agreement could be reached over the precise question.

Dulić: Ready for referendum

If the ruling parties fail to work towards achieving the goals set out during the formation of the current government, the people should decide on their future in early parliamentary elections or in a referendum, Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulić says.

“If it turns out that the atmosphere among the ruling parties is not conducive to accomplishing the government’s original goals, we should call early parliamentary elections as soon as possible and let the citizens decide on their future. We should ask the citizens what they think, be that in elections or a referendum,” Dulić said.

In an interview for the Wednesday issue of daily Danas, he underlined that “on February 3, the citizens opted for the European Union and a strong and stable Serbia.”

“If required, we will be ready to ask them the same question on both occasions - whether they want Serbia to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and continue the process of European integration,“ the speaker said, accusing the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) of “using the situation in Kosovo for promoting its own party values,” and adding that he was afraid "that there are certain political parties who are using the situation to distance Serbia from the EU on a permanent basis."