Pro-EU Tadic re-elected by Serbs
Pro-western Boris Tadic re-elected in Serbian presidential elections
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Monday, 04, Feb 2008 07:35
Serbian president Boris Tadic has been re-elected for a second term after defeating ultranationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic.
In a rerun of the 2004 poll contest, pro-western Mr Tadic was awarded 51 per cent of the vote by the country's electoral commission compared to Mr Nikolic's 47 per cent.
The vote was being seen in Serbia and the international community as a referendum on the country's future, with Mr Tadic advocating steps towards integration with the European Union; compared to Serbian Radical party (SRS) leader Mr Nikolic's call for closer ties with Russia.
Addressing supporters who had poured into the capital following his reported victory, Mr Tadic said from the balcony of his Democratic party's headquarters: "This is Serbia's victory. I think we have proven both to Europe and everywhere else in the world what kind of democracy we have in Serbia.
"We give support today to our fellow people in Kosovo and show them that we will never let them down," he continued.
"We don't want bad things to come to anyone. We want peace, cooperation with all countries in the region, but we demand Serbia be respected, for everyone to respect Serbian people and all the people living in Serbia."
Both Mr Tadic and his opponent are of one mind on the future of Kosovo, Serbia's breakaway province of 1.9 people that is widely expected to declare unilateral independence in the coming days.
But while the two men oppose Kosovan independence, a policy at odds with the US and EU, yesterday's election result has been hailed by Slovenian prime minister Janez Jansa, whose country holds the EU presidency.
"The outcome of the Serbian presidential elections should also be understood as the reflection of the wishes and resolve of democratic forces to further Serbia on its path towards membership of the European Union," Mr Jansa said in a statement.
Mr Nikolic has conceded defeat to Mr Tadic and congratulated his rival at the polls, but in a statement he sent a warning to the EU over Kosovo.
"My message to the EU is to stop blackmailing Serbia and stop putting impossible conditions, that we are ready to be within the EU, but there are some conditions we cannot fulfil," he said.