The parties of the outgoing government, Progressives (SNS) and Socialists (SPS), are advocating that a preamble on Kosovo remain an integral part of the Constitution of Serbia, while the majority of the opposition Democrats (DS), New Democrats (NDS), Liberals (LDP) and United Regions (URS) believe that it does not reflect a reality.
“If there would be a change in the Constitution, the SNS would not allow jeopardizing of the Serbia’s territorial integrity within the present Constitution. So, to recap, territorial integrity in the current constitution. We would not abolish the preamble on Kosovo,” said Veroljub Arsic, member of the SNS Board.
Rasim Ljajic, head of Socialist Democrats SDPS and coalition partner of SNS believes that the Constitution should be changed, because it “contains many anomalies”, as well it should be changed because of the EU accession negotiations. However, Ljajic stressed that “no one asked Serbia to change the preamble, so why would we do it.”
Similarly think SPS officials, which in Istinomer survey pleaded not to change the preamble. Officials of the party still did not want to explain this attitude.
“The preamble on Kosovo is an empty symbol. It did not affect, at all, to the presence of Serbia in Kosovo, nor to its international position. According to my opinion, it is completely irrelevant whether or not to leave the preamble. The others will insist, with the explanation ‘what is the point of preamble on the province, which will be obviously recognized,” said Dragoljub Micunovic, president of the Political Council of DS.
Mićunović pointed out that this is not a key issue in the sense “if the preamble do not save us, nothing will.” It is, in his words, “just a decoration, without effect.”
Bosko Ničić, vice president of URS, said that party officials even previously have been against the current constitution. “The Constitution is very bad. It is not strange since the Constitution was have been written overnight and when it was agreed between Radicals (SRS), SPS, DS and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). I am absolutely for amending the Constitution. When it comes to the preamble, it was necessary at that time so that someone could wave with it. I think we should abolish the preamble on Kosovo. Kosovo is part of Serbia, I do not have a dilemma, but borders of Serbia must be defined,” said Ničić.
According to Mladen Basic, member of the LDP, amendments to the Constitution are needed, and the preamble is not the only problem. “LDP stands for many other changes to the current constitution, against whom we were even in 2006, when it was passed,” recalled Basic.
Konstantin Samofalov, NDS official, avoided to answer the question whether that party advocates removing of the preamble on Kosovo. NDS, however, responded to the survey Istinomer that they advocate removal of the preamble from the Constitution.
DSS is vehemently opposing the removal of Kosovo preamble from the Constitution of Serbia.
