Belgrade, 5 March(AKI) - The work of Serbian parliament was frozen on Wednesday and the government was on the verge of collapse over the issues of Kosovo and European integration. 

The parliament convened to discuss a resolution which would clearly state that Serbia was not interested in joining the European Union (EU) without Kosovo, which declared independence on 17 February.

But as soon as the item was put on the agenda, parliament speaker Oliver Dulic in a technical manoeuvre interrupted the session, saying the issue couldn’t be discussed before the government took stand on the issue.   

The resolution was proposed by the opposition Serbian Radical Party (SRS) to counter president Boris Tadic’s claim that Serbia could retain Kosovo only by joining the EU.

Tadic, who was re-elected to a second term in February, campaigned on the slogan “Kosovo and EU”, but leading EU countries have meanwhile recognised Kosovo and it became clear that Brussels counted on Serbia without Kosovo.

Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica, a vehement opponent of the independence of Kosovo, supported the resolution along with the socialists of former president Slobodan Milosevic.

When it became clear that the resolution had the needed majority, Dulic, a member of Tadic’s Democratic Party (DS), interrupted the session. He said he might put it on the agenda after the government made its position clear on Thursday. 

But Kostunica is outnumbered in his own cabinet by Tadic’s supporters by 17 to eight and would surely be outvoted.

Meanwhile, SRS leader Tomislav Nikolic said he would demand Dulic’s dismissal, which could be achieved with Kostunica’s support.

Nada Kolundzija, the head of DS parliamentary group, said if that were to happen it would mean the end of the government in which Kostunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) is a junior partner.

Tadic, who narrowly beat Nikolic in the presidential elections, said it equalled a referendum in which people voted for European integration.

But DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenovic said it was not the case, suggesting a referendum on the issue could be organised to unblock the institutions.     

Kostunica is openly against joining the EU without Kosovo, while Tadic and a third coalition partner G-17 Plus have been ambiguous on the issue.

The European commission on Tuesday said Serbia was welcome into the EU and invited Belgrade to make its stand clear. But Kostunica retorted the EU position was “absolutely unacceptable” unless Brussels made clear “whether it wants the whole, or rump Serbia”. 

Tadic said Kostunica can’t seat in the government and flirt with the SRS in parliament against government policy, now dictated by the DS. Kostunica should make up his mind or call early elections, he said. 

The prolonged impasse has irritated the public and there has been increasing calls for both leaders to make their positions clear. But analysts said both Tadic and Kostunica feared early elections because, with Kosovo gone, only the SRS, which is already the biggest single party, could benefit. 

Most analysts agreed the present situation was untenable and the unravelling, one way or other, should take place in the coming days.