Parties, public figures form "patriotic opposition bloc"

Parties, public figures form "patriotic opposition bloc"

BELGRADE -- The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Dveri Movement on Thursday signed a declaration on cooperation and on forming "an opposition bloc."

The goal of the new alliance is to bring about a change of government on the state and provincial level, because those currently in power "are leading Serbia into further fragmentation and ruin," it has been announced.

The declaration, dubbed "the Christmas Proclamation," was signed by DSS leader Sanda Raskovic-Ivic and Dveri official Bosko Obradovic, and by several public figures: academician Kosta Cavoski, political analyst Djordje Vukadinovic, and professor Jasmina Vujic.

Neither party is currently represented in parliament, and the new bloc stated that Serbia is missing a strong opposition, urging "all patriotic forces" to support it.

Bosko Obradovic said the main goal was to force early parliamentary elections by the end of this year.

"In these ten points (of the declaration) we have offered an alternative to everything that we have been witnessing during the past 15 years, since October 5, 2000. We want to give back to Serbs the state, the army, the domestic economy, agriculture and villages. We want to do everything opposite to what has been done during the past 15 years," he added.

Sanda Raskovic-Ivic said the alliance did not think it had a monopoly on patriotism, or that those who do not join them are not patriots, and pointed out that the declaration would not turn out to be "a dead letter," inviting citizens "to say 'enough' to the current government."

"The Serb national intelligentsia has great, even historic responsibility, but also a chance to, together with us, together...