"May 20 is referendum on Serbia's direction"

Boris Tadic said on Thursday that the May 20 election was a referendum on where Serbia was headed, on the future of the country and the region. "May 20 is a referendum on whether Serbia is headed to the EU or is wavering on that path. It is a referendum on our future, the future of our region, on where Serbia should go," the leader of the Democratic Party (DS) said at the final party convention held at the Belgrade Arena venue. "May 20 is referendum on Serbia's direction" He will seek his third term in office in the May 20 presidentia runoff against SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic. Tadic noted that over the past decade, the DS had managed to reconcile both powers within Serbia, and Serbia with the region and the world. Today we have the support of all of Europe, because we made an effort to reconcile both Serbia and the region, and have offered a hand to everyone, he said, adding this was something he would keep doing. "This is why today Serbia can proudly say it is one of the pillars of stability in the Balkans," said Tadic. (Tanjug) "Only EU membership can remove border" Serb Republic (RS) President Milorad Dodik showed up on stage to support Tadic's bid and told the gathering that the accession of Serbia and RS to the EU was the only way to abolish the border on the Drina River and to unite the Serb people on both sides of the river. Dodik added Tadic was the only person who could guarantee such a future, as well as ensure that Serbia would be a pillar of peace and a driving engine in the region. "This nation is the only one that can draw the Balkans towards peace and towards Europe, where we will live with everyone, but you need to stop punishing us and posing terms. Serbia which has democratic capacity is the only one that can act as a driving engine in the Balkans," said Dodik. The RS president recalled that Tadic, who has been the president of Serbia for the past eight years, was also the most consistent guarantee of the integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its Dayton architecture, which was also the policy of the Banja Luka (RS) government. "I never planned to break anything apart, but I have heard some in Belgrade sending such messages. The elections have shown they are marginal political figures," said Dodik, noting that the people of the RS were especially hurt by any negative messages coming from Serbia. "We are not adventurers, we are fighting to survive and we love RS just as we love Serbia," said Dodik, concluding he would like to have a political partner among the Bosniaks in Bosnia-Herzegovina who were like Tadic's coalition partner Rasim Ljajic, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Serbia - and an ethnic Bosniak (Muslim). "Hollande supports Serbia on EU path" French president's envoyAlain Richard also addressed the gathering on Thursday to say that his country's newly elected leader Francois Hollande "supports Serbia's path towards full membership in the EU under the leadership of Tadic". "Mr. Tadic can count on the full support of President Hollande and his government the next stage of European integration," Richard said. He pointed out that owing to the bold measures that Tadic, as Serbia's president for the past eight years, and the Serbian government undertook, "and their brave policy on the European course" - France is confident that together we will realize rapid integration into the EU. After Richard's address, a video message was shown of several European politicians who pointed out that the time of facing the economic crisis is the time for progress in European integration. Tanjug

"May 20 is referendum on Serbia's direction"

He will seek his third term in office in the May 20 presidentia runoff against SNS leader Tomislav Nikolić.

Tadić noted that over the past decade, the DS had managed to reconcile both powers within Serbia, and Serbia with the region and the world.

Today we have the support of all of Europe, because we made an effort to reconcile both Serbia and the region, and have offered a hand to everyone, he said, adding this was something he would keep doing.

"This is why today Serbia can proudly say it is one of the pillars of stability in the Balkans," said Tadić.

"Only EU membership can remove border"

Serb Republic (RS) President Milorad Dodik showed up on stage to support Tadić's bid and told the gathering that the accession of Serbia and RS to the EU was the only way to abolish the border on the Drina River and to unite the Serb people on both sides of the river.

Dodik added Tadić was the only person who could guarantee such a future, as well as ensure that Serbia would be a pillar of peace and a driving engine in the region.

"This nation is the only one that can draw the Balkans towards peace and towards Europe, where we will live with everyone, but you need to stop punishing us and posing terms. Serbia which has democratic capacity is the only one that can act as a driving engine in the Balkans," said Dodik.

The RS president recalled that Tadić, who has been the president of Serbia for the past eight years, was also the most consistent guarantee of the integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its Dayton architecture, which was also the policy of the Banja Luka (RS) government.

"I never planned to break anything apart, but I have heard some in Belgrade sending such messages. The elections have shown they are marginal political figures," said Dodik, noting that the people of the RS were especially hurt by any negative messages coming from Serbia.

"We are not adventurers, we are fighting to survive and we love RS just as we love Serbia," said Dodik, concluding he would like to have a political partner among the Bosniaks in Bosnia-Herzegovina who were like Tadić's coalition partner Rasim Ljajić, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Serbia - and an ethnic Bosniak (Muslim).

"Hollande supports Serbia on EU path"

French president's envoyAlain Richard also addressed the gathering on Thursday to say that his country's newly elected leader Francois Hollande "supports Serbia's path towards full membership in the EU under the leadership of Tadić".

"Mr. Tadić can count on the full support of President Hollande and his government the next stage of European integration," Richard said.

He pointed out that owing to the bold measures that Tadić, as Serbia's president for the past eight years, and the Serbian government undertook, "and their brave policy on the European course" - France is confident that together we will realize rapid integration into the EU.

After Richard's address, a video message was shown of several European politicians who pointed out that the time of facing the economic crisis is the time for progress in European integration.