Tadić speaks against interference in elections

No one from the outside should interfere in Serbian elections, Boris Tadic says. The Serbian president and the leader of the Democrats (DS) spoke in an interview for Beta news agency Wednesday afternoon, and explained the May 11 ballot is a matter "for Serbian citizens to decide". Tadic speaks against interference in elections His comments come a day after EU foreing policy chief Javier Solana said Brussels should help the pro-EU forces ahead of the vote. "Any support for Serbia from the European Union is welcome, but I will never welcome anyone's interference in Serbia's internal affairs," Tadic said. Yesterday, all relevant political players, except LDP's Cedomir Jovanovic, condemned Solana's statement. Today, Tadic added that Serbia is a "sovereign country", while her citizens are the "only ones to decide about her future". He explained that Serbia and Serbians "should make the right decisions and move toward the world and Europe". "Serbia must not make decisions that move it away from Europe and the world, because it will self-isolate in this way, while politicians who suggest something of the kind take on themselves the burden or great responsibility for the country's future and her economic growth," the leader of the Democrats said. He called on all politicians to be responsible and support Serbia's EU membership, which "strengthens Serbia's credibility in the world, her economy, and helps in defense of her territorial integrity and sovereignty and preservation of Kosovo and Metohija". Tadic also said that "no one in Serbia will recognize Kosovo's independence", and dismissed accusations that his coalition might do so as part of the campaign, "for dim-witted reasons, in order to win a small number of votes". "No one in Serbia wishes to threaten her integrity and questions her borders and no one will act in this way, especially not I, as the president of Serbia," he continued. Tadic also said he would "never accept Serbia's recognition of Kosovo to be a condition for European integrations". "I would not do this because Serbia cannot enter the EU in that way, and our citizens cannot carry on great reforms facing such humiliation and with their elementary dignity threatened," the president continued. He described his political opponents' campaign, insisting on precisely these issues, as "pathetic", because it "weakens democracy and jeopardizes the state and citizens". He also said that Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica "said that the Stabilization and Association Agreement is acceptable for the government and good for Serbia as it clearly mentions Resolution 1244 and does not prejudice the solution of independence, confirming Serbia's integrity." Tadic said he would "sign the SAA as soon as the EU offered it". Although he said he would not speculate on the date, he expressed pessimism that such offer might arrive before May 11. "Every citizen of Serbia would benefit from EU membership, and because of this no one has ever left [the EU], although the EU is not a cure for all existing problems," Tadic said. "By joining the EU, we get access to fund that are enormous. For example, Poland used EUR 100bn, Greece also. We can help citizens with concrete steps, people's lives, Romania will finish all highways with EU funds, infrastructure, energy… we can't finalize everything on our own," Beta quoted Tadic as saying. Tadic campaigning in Novi Sad yesterday (Beta)

Tadić speaks against interference in elections

His comments come a day after EU foreing policy chief Javier Solana said Brussels should help the pro-EU forces ahead of the vote.

"Any support for Serbia from the European Union is welcome, but I will never welcome anyone's interference in Serbia's internal affairs," Tadić said.

Yesterday, all relevant political players, except LDP's Čedomir Jovanović, condemned Solana's statement.

Today, Tadić added that Serbia is a "sovereign country", while her citizens are the "only ones to decide about her future".

He explained that Serbia and Serbians "should make the right decisions and move toward the world and Europe".

"Serbia must not make decisions that move it away from Europe and the world, because it will self-isolate in this way, while politicians who suggest something of the kind take on themselves the burden or great responsibility for the country's future and her economic growth," the leader of the Democrats said.

He called on all politicians to be responsible and support Serbia's EU membership, which "strengthens Serbia's credibility in the world, her economy, and helps in defense of her territorial integrity and sovereignty and preservation of Kosovo and Metohija".

Tadić also said that "no one in Serbia will recognize Kosovo's independence", and dismissed accusations that his coalition might do so as part of the campaign, "for dim-witted reasons, in order to win a small number of votes".

"No one in Serbia wishes to threaten her integrity and questions her borders and no one will act in this way, especially not I, as the president of Serbia," he continued.

Tadić also said he would "never accept Serbia's recognition of Kosovo to be a condition for European integrations".

"I would not do this because Serbia cannot enter the EU in that way, and our citizens cannot carry on great reforms facing such humiliation and with their elementary dignity threatened," the president continued.

He described his political opponents' campaign, insisting on precisely these issues, as "pathetic", because it "weakens democracy and jeopardizes the state and citizens".

He also said that Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica "said that the Stabilization and Association Agreement is acceptable for the government and good for Serbia as it clearly mentions Resolution 1244 and does not prejudice the solution of independence, confirming Serbia's integrity."

Tadić said he would "sign the SAA as soon as the EU offered it". Although he said he would not speculate on the date, he expressed pessimism that such offer might arrive before May 11.

"Every citizen of Serbia would benefit from EU membership, and because of this no one has ever left [the EU], although the EU is not a cure for all existing problems," Tadić said.

"By joining the EU, we get access to fund that are enormous. For example, Poland used EUR 100bn, Greece also. We can help citizens with concrete steps, people's lives, Romania will finish all highways with EU funds, infrastructure, energy… we can't finalize everything on our own," Beta quoted Tadić as saying.