A PRISONER S DILEMMA FOR THE SERBIAN PEOPLE
A breach of trust generally occurs when communication fails. It also happens when motives are dubious or not related to the real issues at stake. The Serbian electoral debate is trapped in such rhetoric that the only issue should be a zero sum result and to put it bluntly the elimination (even physical) of the adversary.
Yet no sensible people from either side, seems to disagree that the real issue for Serbian politics at the moment is how to deal with the Kosovo status issue without losing the European perspective. That is what the people want. It has been demonstrated in various ways even if the simultaneous desire of the integrity of the State and the European future seemed contradictory.
There is certainly disagreement on how this goal can be achieved. Signing or not the SAA agreement, associating with the Russians more actively, playing tough with the European Union so to attract attention or accelerate the European perspective and achieve an insider power? These real issues are very difficult for any strategist to answer but politicians have to make choices.
Signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU divided coalition partners in the Serbian Government and will dominate the final part of the election campaign of almost all political parties and coalitions.
The Agreement, according to the Serbian President and leader of the DS Boris Tadic, opens a new page in the history of the West Balkans and has special importance in terms of preservation of Serbia˘s integrity. Tadic was also convinced that Serbia will become a candidate member by the end of the year. Pointing that Serbia has both the duty and the right to protect its integrity and sovereignty in Kosmet, Tadic emphasized that at the same time, Serbia has the right to seek its European future.
On the other side Serbian Prime Minister and leader of the DSS Vojislav Kostunica assessed that with his signature, Serbian President Boris Tadic is not going to embarrass Serbia, but only himself and that the new government and the parliament will immediately annul it. According to Kostunica, the signature is anti-constitutional and thus illegal and illegitimate. The coalition partner of the DSS, New Serbia assessed that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement is anti-state act which means direct recognition of the Kosmet independence.
Deputy President of the Serbian Radical Party Tomislav Nikolic assessed that the EU reduced the Stabilization and Association Agreement to the level of cooperation with the DS. At the pre-election gathering in Zrenjanin, he expressed his conviction that the Agreement will not be ratified in the Serbian Assembly, since, as he stated, it does not clearly define whether the EU considers Kosmet a part of Serbia or not.
Leader of the G17 Plus Mladjan Dinkic stated that the Stabilization and Association Agreement will be most beneficial for the unemployed, young people, women, and farmers.
Leader of the LDP Cedomir Jovanovic said that this party will do everything to help the Serbian President and protect him from the pressures because he protects future interests of our society.
President of the Serbian Renewal Movement Vuk Draskovic assessed that by signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, Serbia signed the agreement with life, development and progress. I hope and I believe that at the May 11 elections, the Serbian people will say “no” to anti-European projects that lead to isolated Serbia.
President of the SPS Ivica Dacic assessed that nobody has the right to sign any agreement with the EU until it is clarified whether the EU deems Serbia an integral country.
It is possible that none of the coalitions will have clear majority in the future parliament, so it is not easy to predict which parties may form the future Government after the elections.
The traitors- patriots dilemma is not serving the Serbian cause. Serbian politics have to show firmness but more than that it has to advocate its position. For the second time in the recent Balkan tragedy( the first being the ordeal of Croatians Serbs) Serbia is loosing its rights. In the Kosovo issue any international lawyer would agree that Serbia has a strong case but this is not enough. A strong government is urgently needed. “Divided we ---- ”, exactly.
A post electoral compromise over a common policy towards the E.U.- Russia and the United States would lead the country back to its deserved position in the region.
If there is some of the old Serbian excellence preserved it should be put immediately in work after the elections. Maybe international capital knows better when it considers Serbia a great opportunity and rush to drag the country into the Union. Parts of ancient Yugoslavia already consumed, the heart seems now most desirable.
Serbia has still enough cards to stay in the game and play it successfully.
