The New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic yesterday said that he was confident that the next government will be formed with the SPS and SRS, even if no agreement has yet been reached.

Ilic stated that his optimism was based on the talks so far with the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS)-Associated Pensioners’ Party (PUPS)-United Serbia (JS) coalition. He said, “That coalition is in sight. I think everything is acceptable to everyone, and the good will is there to reach an agreement.”

When he was asked how the differences with JS leader Dragan Markovic concerning the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) would be overcome, Ilic replied, “Markovic has only asked for the SAA not to be annulled a priori at the first session. He wants it to be discussed, which is acceptable to us. We will discuss the theme, and that conversation will be very brief. We didn’t see that agreement in the end, so everything’s open.”

When asked what Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica could offer the SPS, and whether he would relinquish key ministries for the sake of that coalition, Ilic replied that he “didn’t know,“ but added that he expected Kostunica to be prime minister in the event of a coalition between the DSS-NS, Radicals and Socialists being formed.