Radicals say they preserve pride, freedom

Deputy leader of the Radicals (SRS) Tomislav Nikolic said in southern Serbia yesterday that his party is ready to defend Serbia's territory after May 11. Nikolic, who was visiting Surdulica and Leskovac along with the Russian ambassador to Serbia, Aleksandr Konuzin, told a rally of his supporters that the SRS will preserve the Serbian people's pride and freedom. Radicals say they preserve pride, freedom He also said that once they gain power after the elections, the Radicals will cooperate with all of Serbia's friends in the world, including the EU countries, but once they revoke their recognition of Kosovo's unilateral secession. "We'll work together as friends, but don’t touch our territory," Nikolic warned. "If you think Kosovo and Metohija must be independent," he continued, addressing the EU, "then forget Serbia as the place where you'll make money". But the deputy SRS president also said that a Radical cabinet will guarantee the safety of foreign investments. "We do not ask what passport that capital carries, all we care about are jobs for the people," he said, and added that the Radicals will open new factories, employ people and make sure citizens can make a living. Those gathered in Surdulica were also addressed by Konuzin, who said Serbia is facing a difficult moment in her history, "because for the first time in history, a country is robbed of a part of its territory in peacetime". The ambassador, who was in the region for the opening ceremony of a Russo-Serbian factory, PC Partners PES, also told the crowd that Russia will always stand with Serbia, because in this way Moscow protects not only Serbia's territory, but also international order. Special relations between the two countries exist in the sectors of economy, politics and culture, he said, while there's a huge potential for this cooperation to grow. Later in the day, speaking to a rally of supporters in Leskovac, Nikolic said that the Radicals are aware how much citizens expect from them, and that they are "ready to carry this burden and lead Serbia forward". He slammed the regime since 2000 as "being in power for too long", while people suffered, factories closed, and only a handful of the most resourceful managed to get rich. "You deserve a better life and we are offering you one. Vote for the best. There's no one better or more honest than the Radicals," Nikolic told the crowd. He also said there were "only two sides" in the forthcoming election: the Democrats (DS) and the Radicals. The SRS have offered the third side to make a stand," he said in reference to Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), "but they are still silent, mulling". "You cannot be both with the Radicals and the Democrats. What do you want with the latter. Come one, be with the Radicals," Nikolic said. The current government, he added, created paupers out of Serbians, "and these paupers will in this election have their revenge for all the humiliation". The SRS rally in Leskovac yesterday (Tanjug)

Radicals say they preserve pride, freedom

He also said that once they gain power after the elections, the Radicals will cooperate with all of Serbia's friends in the world, including the EU countries, but once they revoke their recognition of Kosovo's unilateral secession.

"We'll work together as friends, but don’t touch our territory," Nikolić warned.

"If you think Kosovo and Metohija must be independent," he continued, addressing the EU, "then forget Serbia as the place where you'll make money".

But the deputy SRS president also said that a Radical cabinet will guarantee the safety of foreign investments.

"We do not ask what passport that capital carries, all we care about are jobs for the people," he said, and added that the Radicals will open new factories, employ people and make sure citizens can make a living.

Those gathered in Surdulica were also addressed by Konuzin, who said Serbia is facing a difficult moment in her history, "because for the first time in history, a country is robbed of a part of its territory in peacetime".

The ambassador, who was in the region for the opening ceremony of a Russo-Serbian factory, PC Partners PES, also told the crowd that Russia will always stand with Serbia, because in this way Moscow protects not only Serbia's territory, but also international order.

Special relations between the two countries exist in the sectors of economy, politics and culture, he said, while there's a huge potential for this cooperation to grow.

Later in the day, speaking to a rally of supporters in Leskovac, Nikolić said that the Radicals are aware how much citizens expect from them, and that they are "ready to carry this burden and lead Serbia forward".

He slammed the regime since 2000 as "being in power for too long", while people suffered, factories closed, and only a handful of the most resourceful managed to get rich.

"You deserve a better life and we are offering you one. Vote for the best. There's no one better or more honest than the Radicals," Nikolić told the crowd.

He also said there were "only two sides" in the forthcoming election: the Democrats (DS) and the Radicals.

The SRS have offered the third side to make a stand," he said in reference to Koštunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), "but they are still silent, mulling".

"You cannot be both with the Radicals and the Democrats. What do you want with the latter. Come one, be with the Radicals," Nikolić said.

The current government, he added, created paupers out of Serbians, "and these paupers will in this election have their revenge for all the humiliation".