AGREEMENT REACHED ON FURTHER WORK OF SERBIAN PARLIAMENT

BELGRADE, Nov 5 (Hina) - Senior representatives of Serbia's DOS ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) reached an agreement on "improving the work" of the Serbian parliament and harmonised political priorities, it was reported on Tuesday morning. #L# The two sides held a night-long meeting in which the chairman of the Yugoslav parliament's Council of Citizens, Dragoljub Micunovic, acted as mediator who took turns to meet with Serbian Prime Minister and president of the Democratic Party Zoran Djindjic and Yugoslav President and DSS president Vojislav Kostunica. The leaders of the DOS coalition issued a joint statement expressing willingness to ensure smooth work for the Serbian parliament. The statement says they agreed on priorities, the passing of election laws, holding a Serbian presidential election, and starting work on Serbia's new constitution. DSS vice-president Dragan Marsicanin told reporters the agreement referred only to the return of DSS MPs to the Serbian parliament. The DSS will not support the Serbian government unconditionally and will continue to have a shadow cabinet, he said. Kostunica's party left parliament after a decision was made to strip inactive MPs of their mandates, including 21 from the DSS. The party was then ousted from the coalition and deprived of all 45 seats in the Serbian parliament. The parliament has not convened since July. The crisis appears to be over thanks to last night's agreement. (hina) ha sb