Moderate Serb PM steps down

[RedRalph]

From BBC

Serbia's PM Kostunica stands down

Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has announced his resignation and called for new elections.
The decision follows his failure to get his cabinet to reject closer ties with the European Union in the wake of Kosovo's declaration of independence.

Mr Kostunica, a moderate nationalist, has described the decision by EU states to recognise Kosovo as illegal.

Serbian President Boris Tadic says Belgrade will only be able to defend its right to Kosovo if it joins the EU.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February.

The United States and major EU countries have recognised it as independent.

Serbia, backed by its ally, Russia, says it will never accept an independent Kosovo.

The government in Belgrade has allegedly agreed a secret plan against Kosovo and countries that recognise it.

It is unclear what it contains.

"The government of Serbia has no united policy any more on an important issue related to the future of the country - Kosovo as a part of Serbia," Mr Kostunica told reporters as he announced his move in Belgrade.

"Such a government could not function any more," he said.

Mr Kostunica said "we should return the mandate to the people" - and added that he would call for early elections to be held on 11 May - the date for Serbia's local elections.

Hm.... I wonder who will likely succeed him? what effect will this have on Kosovo?

 

[cubsfan6506]

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[Winner]

Another moderate nationalist pro-European figure.

 

[RedRalph]

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??????????? Care to explain?

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

It seems he's seeking a mandate to take a harder line against the EU. And given the timing I don't think this election will go as well as the last one from the pro-European point of view. It could get ugly.

 

[TheLastOne36]

This will only cause trouble.

See america, This is what you've done...

 

[The Yankee]

Is it possible (or probably more accurately, probable) for Kostunica to become PM again?

 

[Simple Simon]

moderate?


This guy is way off in the right spectrum. Good thing he's gone - maybe the Serbs will now realize that nationalistic aggression doesn't pay off. Some Serbs I know now mourn the fact that they took away the autonomy Kosovo had under Tito. After all, the final result was Kosovarian independence.

 

[GenMarshall]

I guess the Kosovo fiasco is too much for him .