EU hails Democratic victory

EC Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has “welcomed the success” of pro-European forces at the Serbian elections, adding that the EU is ready to accelerate Serbia’s EU path. In a statement from Brussels, Rehn said that he believed that “the new government would continue the reform program and the road to Europe.” EU hails Democratic victory He said that “Serbia can become the powerhouse of the Western Balkans,” repeating “the EU’s readiness to accelerate Serbia’s path to the EU, including giving her candidate status.” “The European Commission has received the first results of the elections, and welcomes the success of reformist forces that share European values,” read the statement. The commissioner added that he welcomed the fact that yesterday’s ballot had passed off peacefully, as confirmed by the international ODIHR observer mission. Meanwhile, EU High Representative Javier Solana expressed his hope that the new government would be swiftly formed, and that it would be firmly committed to reforms and meeting the conditions for Serbia’s progress to the EU. The EU would, in return, offer Serbia its wholehearted support on that road. “I’d like to congratulate the Serbian people on the free and peaceful parliamentary elections,” said Solana. “After the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), the country is now in a good position to move forward quickly,” he stressed. Earlier today, the EU Presidency also welcomed the victory of pro-European forces at yesterday’s parliamentary ballot. In a statement, the EU Presidency expressed its hope that a new government would be formed “with a clear European agenda.” “The EU presidency warmly congratulates the clear victory of the pro-European forces at the Serbian elections,” read the statement. The EU also welcomed “the peaceful passage of the elections, which, according to initial reports, were held in a free and democratic manner.” “The Presidency hopes that the new government will be formed with a clear European agenda,” the statement continued. The Slovenian presidency stressed that meeting the criteria set out by the EU Council of Ministers on April 29 in Luxembourg would allow Serbia “to progress further down its road to the EU, which would involve receiving candidate status.” “The EU expects the new government to engage constructively in regional cooperation,” the statement concluded. Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said that he was very pleased that President Boris Tadic would have a bigger role in the future. “Serbia’s pro-European forces have won, which was our aim in the EU. It looks as if Tadic’s Democrats will have a significant role, which pleases me greatly,” he said. Olli Rehn (Tanjug, archive) Kouchner: Serbia has chosen Europe French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has welcomed the results of yesterday’s elections, adding that Serbia's citizens have "clearly voted for Europe." “The ballot’s preliminary results give a significant lead for the coalition headed by President Boris Tadic,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that Serbia had clearly voted for Europe on May 11. Kouchner congratulated representatives of the Democratic Party on their victory in a telephone call last night, the statement added. French Secretary of State Jean Pierre Jouyet also hailed the “outcome of the Serbian vote.” “After these elections, we’ll endeavor to cement Serbia’s European prospects,” said Jouyet, adding that “the Serbs know that they can count on Europe and France.” The election results were also welcomed by EU High Representative Javier Solana’s spokeswoman Cristina Gallach. Swedish, Austrian FMs: Results "better than expected" Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has congratulated the pro-European parties led by Boris Tadic on their performance at the parliamentary elections. Bildt said that the results of the elections were a lot better “than expected,” adding that the results of opinion polls prior to the election had pointed to the possibility of a Serb Radical Party (SRS) victory. He said that there was no doubting the “moral victory” of the pro-European parties, adding that he expected the formation of a new government to take several months, according to Germany news agency DPA. Bildt said that the recent signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU had “probably” had an effect on the voting. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik joined Bildt in welcoming the victory of the pro-European parties in Serbia, adding that the Serbian people had chosen a European future. “The Serbian parliament and future government have a historic chance to create irreversible road maps towards the EU. All the political forces in Serbia that support this goal should help the new government turn the citizens’ convincing choice for a modern, European Serbia into actions,” she said. “Austria will continue to support and follow Serbia’s European path. Only with the integration of the entire Balkans will we reach our goal to reunite Europe and reconcile the continent. The decision of the Serbian voters has given a fillip to these efforts,” Plassnik claimed. She supported the “decisiveness of the victor in the elections, President Boris Tadic, to continue reforms, especially in the fields of security and justice, as well as cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” she said, adding that implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU was also necessary. “The resumption of the European reform road will be in the interests of all Serbia’s citizens. Reaching full legal statehood in the country will increase investor confidence in Serbia’s future by helping create new jobs, and improve citizens’ standard of living. The people of Serbia deserve a future in safety, peace and prosperity, and we wish to support them in achieving these goals,” Plassnik stressed. U.S. congratulates Serbian people The United States has congratulated the people of Serbia today on their massive turnout at democratic parliamentary and local elections. “The Serbian electorate has clearly shown that it is committed to Europe. The people of Serbia have chosen a prosperous future in the Western community,” said the U.S. embassy in Belgrade. The U.S. expects the continuation of cooperation with the Serbian people and their democratic leaders in their efforts to achieve the vision of October 2000. “We are intent on continuing cooperation with the reformist forces with the goal of achieving this vision,” read the embassy statement.

EU hails Democratic victory

He said that “Serbia can become the powerhouse of the Western Balkans,” repeating “the EU’s readiness to accelerate Serbia’s path to the EU, including giving her candidate status.”

“The European Commission has received the first results of the elections, and welcomes the success of reformist forces that share European values,” read the statement.

The commissioner added that he welcomed the fact that yesterday’s ballot had passed off peacefully, as confirmed by the international ODIHR observer mission.

Meanwhile, EU High Representative Javier Solana expressed his hope that the new government would be swiftly formed, and that it would be firmly committed to reforms and meeting the conditions for Serbia’s progress to the EU. The EU would, in return, offer Serbia its wholehearted support on that road.

“I’d like to congratulate the Serbian people on the free and peaceful parliamentary elections,” said Solana.

“After the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), the country is now in a good position to move forward quickly,” he stressed.

Earlier today, the EU Presidency also welcomed the victory of pro-European forces at yesterday’s parliamentary ballot.

In a statement, the EU Presidency expressed its hope that a new government would be formed “with a clear European agenda.”

“The EU presidency warmly congratulates the clear victory of the pro-European forces at the Serbian elections,” read the statement.

The EU also welcomed “the peaceful passage of the elections, which, according to initial reports, were held in a free and democratic manner.”

“The Presidency hopes that the new government will be formed with a clear European agenda,” the statement continued.

The Slovenian presidency stressed that meeting the criteria set out by the EU Council of Ministers on April 29 in Luxembourg would allow Serbia “to progress further down its road to the EU, which would involve receiving candidate status.”

“The EU expects the new government to engage constructively in regional cooperation,” the statement concluded.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said that he was very pleased that President Boris Tadić would have a bigger role in the future. “Serbia’s pro-European forces have won, which was our aim in the EU. It looks as if Tadić’s Democrats will have a significant role, which pleases me greatly,” he said.

Kouchner: Serbia has chosen Europe

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has welcomed the results of yesterday’s elections, adding that Serbia's citizens have "clearly voted for Europe."

“The ballot’s preliminary results give a significant lead for the coalition headed by President Boris Tadic,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that Serbia had clearly voted for Europe on May 11.

Kouchner congratulated representatives of the Democratic Party on their victory in a telephone call last night, the statement added.

French Secretary of State Jean Pierre Jouyet also hailed the “outcome of the Serbian vote.”

“After these elections, we’ll endeavor to cement Serbia’s European prospects,” said Jouyet, adding that “the Serbs know that they can count on Europe and France.”

The election results were also welcomed by EU High Representative Javier Solana’s spokeswoman Cristina Gallach.

Swedish, Austrian FMs: Results "better than expected"

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has congratulated the pro-European parties led by Boris Tadić on their performance at the parliamentary elections.

Bildt said that the results of the elections were a lot better “than expected,” adding that the results of opinion polls prior to the election had pointed to the possibility of a Serb Radical Party (SRS) victory.

He said that there was no doubting the “moral victory” of the pro-European parties, adding that he expected the formation of a new government to take several months, according to Germany news agency DPA.

Bildt said that the recent signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU had “probably” had an effect on the voting.

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik joined Bildt in welcoming the victory of the pro-European parties in Serbia, adding that the Serbian people had chosen a European future.

“The Serbian parliament and future government have a historic chance to create irreversible road maps towards the EU. All the political forces in Serbia that support this goal should help the new government turn the citizens’ convincing choice for a modern, European Serbia into actions,” she said.

“Austria will continue to support and follow Serbia’s European path. Only with the integration of the entire Balkans will we reach our goal to reunite Europe and reconcile the continent. The decision of the Serbian voters has given a fillip to these efforts,” Plassnik claimed.

She supported the “decisiveness of the victor in the elections, President Boris Tadić, to continue reforms, especially in the fields of security and justice, as well as cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” she said, adding that implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU was also necessary.

“The resumption of the European reform road will be in the interests of all Serbia’s citizens. Reaching full legal statehood in the country will increase investor confidence in Serbia’s future by helping create new jobs, and improve citizens’ standard of living. The people of Serbia deserve a future in safety, peace and prosperity, and we wish to support them in achieving these goals,” Plassnik stressed.

U.S. congratulates Serbian people

The United States has congratulated the people of Serbia today on their massive turnout at democratic parliamentary and local elections.

“The Serbian electorate has clearly shown that it is committed to Europe. The people of Serbia have chosen a prosperous future in the Western community,” said the U.S. embassy in Belgrade.

The U.S. expects the continuation of cooperation with the Serbian people and their democratic leaders in their efforts to achieve the vision of October 2000.

“We are intent on continuing cooperation with the reformist forces with the goal of achieving this vision,” read the embassy statement.