EU mission controversy sparks Serbian government crisis
The EU adoption of the legal and financial framework for its mission to Kosovo has sparked a crisis in the Serbian government, as it coincided with the offer to sign a “political agreement” between Belgrade and Brussels, which is seen by Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and most observers as a European “sweetener” for the looming unilateral secession of Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Kostunica said the "political agreement" was a "deceit" and called for an urgent meeting of the parliament, a move backed by the opposition.
However, two remaining parties in the Serbian government - the Democratic Party of president Boris Tadic and the G17 - remained in favor of signing the agreement with Brussels.
The speaker of the parliament Oliver Dulic called for consultations with parliamentary groups for Monday, while Kostunica replied that he would not call for a next session of government before the parliament meets.
These moves have paralyzed the working of the government, and analysts and even members of government have begun talking about the possible fall of the current government and new elections in May.
The turmoil on Serbian political scene came as Kosovo Albanian leaders announced the final steps before unilateral declaration of independence in the second part of February.
