Post by radovic on Oct 30, 2007 13:53:49 GMT -5
The only certain thing over joining NATO - referendum
Kostunica’s stance surprised coalition partners
Author: Ž. Jevtiæ | 30.10.2007 - 06:00
DSS stance that the ‘Partnership for Peace’ program is a sufficient and optimal level of Serbia’s cooperation with NATO and that DSS is absolutely against our country’s joining that alliance, surprised even DSS coalition partners in the Government because of its strong tone.
To say the truth, such a stance is not quite unexpected since DSS representatives have expressed their reservations towards enthusiasm of its coalition partners, in the first place DS (the shortest way to EU leading via NATO) on several occasions.
DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenovic yesterday expressed optimism that DSS idea of neutrality would be generally accepted ‘since that is the best possible option for the State’.
‘Military neutrality is the best and most reliable way for Serbia to preserve its state sovereignty, integrity and independence as a ground of its free and complete progress and to secure dignified life to all of its citizens’, Mladenovic said.
According to his words the neutrality represents Serbia’s frank dedication against the policy of force, any kind of aggression and putting of world peace at risk.
Serbian Radical Party vice president Dragan Todorovic went a step further. According to him it is to be clearly said that NATO’s stance towards Serbia is hostile.
‘Serbia has to turn towards countries that are our friends, Russia, China, Belarus, the Arab world and the Latin America’, Todorovic said referring to DSS declaration.
Professor Dr Branislav Djordjevic, member of Atlantic Council Management Board in Serbia:
'Road to EU leading via NATO'
Q: Can eventual orientation by Serbia towards European, but not Euro-Atlantic integration processes slow down Serbia’s course towards EU?
‘Serbia Parliament and Government still have not made any official announcement on that. The fact that in the new DSS program there is written that DSS is opposing Serbia’s joining NATO should be viewed as mere stance of a political party that is participating in the Government and not as the Government’s official stance. At the end of the day, the decision shall be made by the citizens in referendum. However, one should bear in mind that none of the countries of the former Eastern bloc has been admitted to EU without prior joining NATO’.
Q: What does military neutrality understand?
‘Neutrality is possible but for some other countries’.
Q: What would joining NATO bring to Serbia and how much would that cost us?
‘Benefits are numerous and they do not concern the security only. I would point out economic benefits as well. The very act of joining the alliance costs one Euro per capita. It should not be forgotten that assets invested would return through more developed economic relations with 26 of NATO member countries. Among them there are some of the wealthiest countries of the world’.
Dragan Sormaz, member of DSS main board and also MP:
'No war for foreign interests'
Q: Why is DSS for military neutrality of Serbia?
‘Geo-strategically, it makes absolutely no difference whether we are in the NATO or not since Serbia has no territorial aspirations towards any of the countries. We want good neighboring relations as well as good relations with all international factors, the UN, Council of Europe, Partnership for Peace. The cooperation is not a matter of dispute. We can cooperate via ‘Partnership for Peace’. We do not have to be in NATO. Being out of it we are protecting ourselves against participation in wars for foreign interests. As a neutral country we can participate in UN missions at our choice. Membership in NATO is not decisive for EU membership, Austria is an example’.
Q: Is military neutrality something realistic for a country whose budget does not service in full even the existing military capacities?
‘Our stance is that we should meet the standards accepted by other countries, Russia, Austria, that are not NATO members. We think that 2 per cent of the budget should be put aside for the Army, that is a standard, too. That is sufficient to have a modern and our own army’.
Kostunica’s stance surprised coalition partners
Author: Ž. Jevtiæ | 30.10.2007 - 06:00
DSS stance that the ‘Partnership for Peace’ program is a sufficient and optimal level of Serbia’s cooperation with NATO and that DSS is absolutely against our country’s joining that alliance, surprised even DSS coalition partners in the Government because of its strong tone.
To say the truth, such a stance is not quite unexpected since DSS representatives have expressed their reservations towards enthusiasm of its coalition partners, in the first place DS (the shortest way to EU leading via NATO) on several occasions.
DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenovic yesterday expressed optimism that DSS idea of neutrality would be generally accepted ‘since that is the best possible option for the State’.
‘Military neutrality is the best and most reliable way for Serbia to preserve its state sovereignty, integrity and independence as a ground of its free and complete progress and to secure dignified life to all of its citizens’, Mladenovic said.
According to his words the neutrality represents Serbia’s frank dedication against the policy of force, any kind of aggression and putting of world peace at risk.
Serbian Radical Party vice president Dragan Todorovic went a step further. According to him it is to be clearly said that NATO’s stance towards Serbia is hostile.
‘Serbia has to turn towards countries that are our friends, Russia, China, Belarus, the Arab world and the Latin America’, Todorovic said referring to DSS declaration.
Professor Dr Branislav Djordjevic, member of Atlantic Council Management Board in Serbia:
'Road to EU leading via NATO'
Q: Can eventual orientation by Serbia towards European, but not Euro-Atlantic integration processes slow down Serbia’s course towards EU?
‘Serbia Parliament and Government still have not made any official announcement on that. The fact that in the new DSS program there is written that DSS is opposing Serbia’s joining NATO should be viewed as mere stance of a political party that is participating in the Government and not as the Government’s official stance. At the end of the day, the decision shall be made by the citizens in referendum. However, one should bear in mind that none of the countries of the former Eastern bloc has been admitted to EU without prior joining NATO’.
Q: What does military neutrality understand?
‘Neutrality is possible but for some other countries’.
Q: What would joining NATO bring to Serbia and how much would that cost us?
‘Benefits are numerous and they do not concern the security only. I would point out economic benefits as well. The very act of joining the alliance costs one Euro per capita. It should not be forgotten that assets invested would return through more developed economic relations with 26 of NATO member countries. Among them there are some of the wealthiest countries of the world’.
Dragan Sormaz, member of DSS main board and also MP:
'No war for foreign interests'
Q: Why is DSS for military neutrality of Serbia?
‘Geo-strategically, it makes absolutely no difference whether we are in the NATO or not since Serbia has no territorial aspirations towards any of the countries. We want good neighboring relations as well as good relations with all international factors, the UN, Council of Europe, Partnership for Peace. The cooperation is not a matter of dispute. We can cooperate via ‘Partnership for Peace’. We do not have to be in NATO. Being out of it we are protecting ourselves against participation in wars for foreign interests. As a neutral country we can participate in UN missions at our choice. Membership in NATO is not decisive for EU membership, Austria is an example’.
Q: Is military neutrality something realistic for a country whose budget does not service in full even the existing military capacities?
‘Our stance is that we should meet the standards accepted by other countries, Russia, Austria, that are not NATO members. We think that 2 per cent of the budget should be put aside for the Army, that is a standard, too. That is sufficient to have a modern and our own army’.