New Kosova Report

Protesters in Belgrade demand EU path for Serbia

Monday, 11 February 2008

Students hold a banner reading 'Brussels - Bologna - Belgrade'

BELGRADE, Serbia: Serbian students demonstrated Monday in Belgrade against Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's anti-EU policies before an expected declaration of independence in Kosovo.

Kostunica, a nationalist, has blocked the signing of a cooperation agreement with the European Union, to protest the union's decision to send a mission to Kosovo.

The move has led to a rift with President Boris Tadic, who advocates quick EU integration of Serbia regardless of Kosovo's expected independence, which is supported by most EU states.

Tadic and Kostunica were expected to meet later Monday to try to resolve the crisis and avoid the collapse of their coalition government.

About 2,000 demonstrators in downtown Belgrade, mostly university students, demanded the government sign the deal with the EU and end the political stalemate.

The protesters carried EU flags and balloons, as well as banners reading "Down with Kostunica, Down With New Milosevic," comparing the hardline premier with the former nationalist president Slobodan Milosevic.

"We are not getting the future that we want," said Tamara Skoric, a 19-year-old psychology student.

Dusan Hadzi Nikolic, a 22-year-old law student, added that "we must not let the whole of Serbia go down because of Kosovo."

Kostunica, who rejects independence for Kosovo, has argued that the EU decision to send a mission to Kosovo presented a prelude to the province's independence.

The premier's Democratic Party of Serbia denounced the protest later Monday, saying it was "irresponsible" to demonstrate for "student visas while the European Union is sending a mission to break up Serbia."

The cooperation deal offered by the EU envisages easing of visa restrictions and trade benefits for the Serbs.

Serbia wants to keep hold of Kosovo although it has had no control over the province since a 1999 NATO bombing ended a crackdown against ethnic Albanian rebels and forced Belgrade to pull out.

Kostunica has advocated severing ties with EU states and other countries that recognize an independent Kosovo — a move that would push Serbia into an isolation similar to that of Milosevic's warmongering era.