Preserving the territorial integrity of Serbia is the most important question for the DSS, like the territorial integrity of Germany is the most important for political parties in Germany. This isn’t an election topic for us, but an obligation, says in an interview for Blic, Nenad Popovic, the vice president of the DSS.
I believe that with the latest events in the EU, the ‘Europe has no Alternative’ policy has been definitely defeated like many other policies of this government.
Popovic says that it’s high time a discussion opens up in Serbia about entering the EU, and that we can see “the advantages and flaws of Euro-integrations’, and not impose the issue of entering the EU as if it was a fateful issue for the survival of Serbia”.
- Such a discussion is especially important at this time when due to the large internal crisis even the very EU members are considering alternatives. I believe that with the latest events, the policy “Europe has no Alternative” has been definitely defeated like many other policies of this government.
What is the solution for the Kosovo problem? Is it enough to say, “We’ll never admit Kosovo” and what can Serbia actually do?
- We have to constantly advocate the observance of Resolution 1244 and insist on negotiations over Kosovo to be led at the Security Council of the UN, and not in Brussels which has openly stood on the side of Kosovo’s independence. At the Security Council we have the principle support of the Russians and no decision in this body can be made without the permission of Russia or Serbia.
I DON’T BURDEN THE BUDGET
You are the only MP that hasn’t taken a penny from the state budget. Why?
- I’ve been working in commerce for over 20 years and I entered politics as a materially situated person. Money never was a motive for me to engage myself politically. I figured that owing to the economic crisis it would be unfair for me to additionally burden the state budget.
Can such a cemented standpoint of the DSS on Kosovo help the people of Serbia live a better life?
- Our goal is the development of Serbia and we feel that the country should open up to new alternatives, because we believe that this will enable a greater inflow of investments, and with it more work and better salaries for our citizens. Plus, we need to bring the economic relations with the EU to a higher level.
How will your party fare in the upcoming elections? What kind of a result are you expecting?
- The DSS at this moment has a double-digit rating. The rating will keep rising as elections grow nearer, particularly when we unveil our economic program in February for the years 2012-2017. We owe credit for this rating to the president of our party, Vojislav Kostunica, probably the only political leader in Serbia without daily-changing policies, but possessing the ability to anticipate future political events.
Will you be entering into an election coalition?
- At this moment, the members of the DSS want an independent appearance in the elections, and the party will make its decision when the elections are called. Afterwards, we will discuss potential coalitions with all the parties running a nationally responsible policy and which don’t put the interest of the EU or any other alien interests ahead of the Serbian.
WE BARE NO GRUDGE AGAINST ILIC
Is the DSS angry with Velimir Ilic for turning to the Serbian Progressive Party?
- Of course not. Every party chooses his own path and partners. For us, it’s important the Progressive Party is an opposition party, opposing the politics of the present government.
With which party could you go into a coalition, and would you make an alliance with the Progressive Party if you are in a position to form a government together?
- We’ll discuss post-election coalitions after the elections. We are having talks with the mentioned party and exchanging thoughts on the most important issues for Serbia. There are issues over which we agree and those over which we don’t. What’s important is that there is a will on both sides to come to an agreement about which road Serbia should take after the elections. One thing is certain, the government will after elections be comprised of a different ruling majority, because the people want changes.
Is the DSS considering a coalition with the Serbian Radical Party?
- Right now we are only thinking about ourselves, and achieving as better results in elections as possible.
Can you imagine cooperation with the DS and under what conditions?
- The DSS and DS have had essentially opposing policies for the past three years. We are primarily oriented towards Serbia, and they towards the EU. Our party is prepared to cooperate with all the parties who put the state and economic interests of Serbia ahead of foreign interests.
