Serbia’s millitary neutrality and Kosovo
In this section of the programme, the SL confirms that it will continue to advocate military neutrality (proclaimed in 2007, before the Serbian Progressive Party came to power). On Kosovo (and Metohija), the SL maintains that the territory is an integral part of Serbia and will oppose both Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence and its membership of international organisations. Agreements signed by previous governments will be reviewed, and anyone found to have signed agreements contrary to the Constitution will face prosecution. Although the programme does not mention the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities, the Students’ List emphasises its commitment to the broadest possible autonomy for municipalities with a Serb majority or a significant Serb population, on both sides of the Ibar River. The SL will seek to preserve Serbian cultural, educational and religious institutions in Kosovo. Its policy will be based on Serbia’s current Constitution and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.
SEE Region
The Students’ List programme also envisages maintaining ties with the diaspora, while drawing attention to irregularities and potential corruption in the discretionary granting of Serbian citizenship. It therefore announces a review of all such decisions. As regards Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Students’ List advocates preserving the constitutional status and established competences of Republika Srpska, “including its right of veto within the joint institutions, as well as its movable and immovable property”. It announces a review of the existing practice of applying the High Representative’s so-called Bonn powers and insists that the High Representative be appointed legitimately, maintaining that such an appointment requires the consent of the United Nations Security Council. The SL will alert the international community and employ all necessary diplomatic and legal mechanisms if the mandate established under Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement is exceeded. Relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska will be based on the Agreement on Special and Parallel Relations. Cooperation and ties will be strengthened in trade and economic exchange, industrialisation, the development of transport and energy infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and services, public security, integrated development, and educational and cultural cooperation.
With regard to Montenegro, the SL advocates improving the status of the Serb population in the country, protecting its identity and preventing assimilation. It also calls for the issue of dual citizenship to be resolved in a manner that benefits both states.
On the issue of Serbs in Croatia, the Students’ List announces that it will insist on the protection of their rights and the preservation of their national, cultural and linguistic identity. Particular attention will be paid to the situation of returnees, judicial proceedings against Serbs, the right to mark gravesites with dignity, and compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1120, the 1997 letter from the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Erdut Agreement, and the Agreement on the Protection of Minority Rights signed by the then State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) and Croatia in 2004.
The European Union and the enlargement process
The Students’ List approaches the European Union from the standpoint that it is Serbia’s most important economic partner. It advocates deepening the strategic partnerships already established with EU member states — Greece, Italy, Hungary and France — and seeks to establish new partnerships of this kind with other countries. The SL aims to obtain IBAR status through significant progress in the areas of the judiciary and fundamental rights, covered by Chapters 23 and 24 of the EU accession negotiations. It also announces plans to deepen cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank in order to “secure grants and other forms of financial support for development projects of importance to citizens”. The programme does not explicitly state that Serbia intends to join the European Union, nor does it elaborate further on the EU enlargement process as it relates to Serbia or other candidate countries.
Russia, United States, China and new diplomatic presence in the Global South
The Students’ List programme states that the SL will “preserve the traditional partnership with the Russian Federation, in terms of coordination in the United Nations Security Council, with regard to protecting Serbia’s territorial integrity and resolving outstanding issues of mutual interest”. It considers the imposition of sanctions on any state, entity or individual to be counterproductive and, drawing on Serbia’s own experience of sanctions in the 1990s, will oppose the imposition of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. “At the same time, we will adhere to the principled position under international law that the territorial integrity of all sovereign countries in the world must be respected, including the territorial integrity and inviolability of the Republic of Ukraine, while consistently advocating an end to armed conflict, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the development of the best possible relations with both friendly peoples.”
Relations with the United States will be developed on the basis of shared interests and greater mutual trust, particularly in telecommunications, energy, transport, artificial intelligence, gas supply diversification and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as defence cooperation. Particular emphasis is placed on the intention to increase trade with the US and attract greater investment in high technology.
A comprehensive strategic partnership will be developed with China, but future projects will be required to comply with domestic regulations, environmental standards, workers’ rights and occupational health and safety requirements. The Students’ List programme also announces plans to establish a new diplomatic presence in Latin America, India and Africa, drawing on the traditionally good relations established during the era of the Non-Aligned Movement. Cooperation with Latin American countries will include efforts to combat organised crime.
Israel and Palestine
The Students’ List programme concludes by recalling that “our people know well what it means to be victims of genocide and ethnic cleansing, and that is why we will oppose every form of oppression of the weaker by the stronger”. “Accordingly, we will not be complicit in the systematic attempt to destroy the Palestinian people that Israel is carrying out in the Gaza Strip, and we will intensify the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestine in order to save lives and reduce the number of casualties.”
To achieve these objectives, the Students’ List announces a comprehensive reform of the entire foreign affairs service, aimed at ending the detrimental practices it describes as “party patronage, nepotism, politicisation, and appointments made without professional qualifications, professional experience or clearly defined criteria”.
The full Students’ List programme is available in Serbian here. No English-language version is available, apart from the following statement:
“We will conduct foreign policy in accordance with the Constitution, guided by principled, balanced and pragmatic priorities. These will focus on representation in relations with other states, international organisations and institutions, and on protecting the national interests of the Republic of Serbia, its citizens, diaspora and legal entities abroad.”
