http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/mladen_tosic/2008/03/compromise_or_lose. html
GUARDIAN (UK) COMMENT IS FREE Compromise or lose Mladen Tosic March 14, 2008 12:30 PM Facing disunity within the governing coalition about the future relations of Serbia with the EU and its strategy on Kosovo, this week the Serbian government scheduled a snap general election for May. The hope is that elections will result in a more coherent government coalition that will be able to resolve the impasse that Serbia has found itself in over the past few months. The impasse is created by a choice seemingly facing Serbia, between Kosovo on the one hand and a fast-track to the EU on the other. Serbia's electorate have so far opted for both. While most would like to see Serbia enter the EU, the majority would also want any new government to continue to fight for the return of Kosovo. Although so far internally the two objectives have in some way been presented as reconcilable, it is now unclear how the electorate will react when these are presented as conflicting alternatives. Yet, while the choice facing voters now seems to be a stark one, it is unlikely that either Kosovo or the EU will disappear from the agenda of any new government. A clear victory for any single political party is unlikely. The nature of Serbia's political system will mean that another coalition government will emerge. Whatever the outcome therefore, potential leverage from a strong opposition could make a definitive choice for Serbia less likely. Not only is there a likelihood that both issues will remain on the agenda but, even when considered separately they will not lead to a clear-cut future. Even if Boris Tadic, recently re-elected president of Serbia and leader of the largest pro-EU party, has his day, Serbia is unlikely to have the opportunity to join the EU for quite some time. Certainly its path through the myriad of interim agreements will possibly be speeded up, but this is unlikely in itself to have an impact on the lives of the vast majority of Serbia's population in the near future. If the pro-Kosovo camp has its day, led by the current prime minister, Vojislav Kostunica, and the leader of the largest opposition party, Tomislav Nikolic, there will still be no clear strategy for continuing Serbia's fight to regain Kosovo. Certainly, Kosovo will remain high on the agenda both domestically and internationally. However, without international events turning in Serbia's favour, it is not clear how, if at all, Serbia's new government would be able to deliver a return of Kosovo. While no new government will really be able to deliver on one issue without unparalleled international support, the choice facing the electorate may well be once again between who can best straddle the two. By the end of May therefore, Serbia may well not resolve either way its impasse, yet it will probably get, for a short time at least, a more coherent governing coalition. [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:letters%40guardian.co.uk>
