SERBIA: DSS TO DISCONTINUE TALKS WITH DS

BELGRADE, Feb 2(Hina) - The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) of Vojislav Kostunica will no longer continue negotiations with the Democratic Party (DS) of Zoran Zivkovic and Boris Tadic on the election of the Serbian parliament president and the composition of the new government, a senior DSS official, Dejan Mihajlov, said on Monday.#L# "There will be no talks with the DS regarding the setting up of the new parliament and government. It is difficult to imagine cooperation with them," Mihajlov said at a news conference. He confirmed that his party had recently negotiated with the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) of Slobodan Milosevic on support for the election of the parliament president and that the talks would resume. SPS vice-president Milorad Vucelic told the Beta news agency that his party would support the constitution of the parliament and government "because of national interests". The SPS has not been invited to talks yet, but it expects to hold a meeting with representatives of the parties of the so-called democratic bloc during the day, he said. Dragoljub Micunovic, leader of the Democratic Centre, whose representatives participated in the last parliamentary elections on DS rosters, told Radio B92 today that the DSS electing its candidate for parliament president with the support of Milosevic's SPS would mean that the DSS was able to form a minority government and no longer needed the support of the DS. The continuation of the constituting session of the Serbian parliament was postponed last Friday until further notice because the four parties of the democratic bloc failed to agree to support their joint candidate for the post of parliament president as the DS rejected to give support before the program and set-up of the new government was defined. (Hina) rml sb