VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBW #0162 0430633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120633Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2176
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

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