Poll: Serbians put Kosovo before EU

The Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) presented the results of its latest opinion poll Tuesday. The survey shows that a favorable outcome to the ongoing Kosovo crisis is at this point more important to the citizens of Serbia than the country joining the EU. Poll: Serbians put Kosovo before EU Kosovo is considered the most important foreign policy issue by 41 percent of those who took part in the poll, conducted in August. Survey supervisor Zoran Stojiljkovic told a news conference in Belgrade that the population cares somewhat more about Kosovo than it does about EU membership, stressing that Kosovo wins by a four to three margin. Another issue on which people are deeply divided is breaking off diplomatic ties with the countries that might recognize an independent Kosovo. 37 percent of those interviewed said "yes", while an equal percentage said "no". Those in favor are mostly from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), according to Stojiljkovic. He added that there had been a drop in the percentage of people willing to make sacrifices for Kosovo, including those willing to fight another war, whose number now stands at 10 percent. Although two-thirds of those polled back EU membership, a mere two percent consider themselves Europeans. Unlike the EU, NATO remains an unpopular organization with most citizens believing it is possible to join the former without deepening ties with the latter. Results also suggest that the number of those who consider their living standard to have improved is on the rise, compared to a year ago. As for politics, Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic is the country's most popular politician, while the Serb Radical Party (SRS) enjoys the most voter support, according to the survey. If elections were held presently, the Radicals would come in first with 33 percent of the vote, according to CeSID program manager Djordje Vukovic. Another 29 percent would vote for the Democrats, while 13 percent would back the Democratic Party of Serbia-New Serbia coalition. Nine more percent would support the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP), five percent would vote for the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), while G17 Plus could count on four percent of the vote. Vukovic went on to say that President Boris Tadic tops the popularity list, enjoying the support of 12 percent of the electorate. SRS leader Tomislav Nikolic has a following of nine percent, while Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, president of the Democratic Party of Serbia, is endorsed by eight percent of voters.

Poll: Serbians put Kosovo before EU

Kosovo is considered the most important foreign policy issue by 41 percent of those who took part in the poll, conducted in August.

Survey supervisor Zoran Stojiljković told a news conference in Belgrade that the population cares somewhat more about Kosovo than it does about EU membership, stressing that Kosovo wins by a four to three margin.

Another issue on which people are deeply divided is breaking off diplomatic ties with the countries that might recognize an independent Kosovo. 37 percent of those interviewed said "yes", while an equal percentage said "no".

Those in favor are mostly from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), according to Stojiljković.

He added that there had been a drop in the percentage of people willing to make sacrifices for Kosovo, including those willing to fight another war, whose number now stands at 10 percent.

Although two-thirds of those polled back EU membership, a mere two percent consider themselves Europeans.

Unlike the EU, NATO remains an unpopular organization with most citizens believing it is possible to join the former without deepening ties with the latter.

Results also suggest that the number of those who consider their living standard to have improved is on the rise, compared to a year ago.

As for politics, Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadić is the country's most popular politician, while the Serb Radical Party (SRS) enjoys the most voter support, according to the survey.

If elections were held presently, the Radicals would come in first with 33 percent of the vote, according to CeSID program manager Đorđe Vuković.

Another 29 percent would vote for the Democrats, while 13 percent would back the Democratic Party of Serbia-New Serbia coalition.

Nine more percent would support the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP), five percent would vote for the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), while G17 Plus could count on four percent of the vote.

Vuković went on to say that President Boris Tadić tops the popularity list, enjoying the support of 12 percent of the electorate. SRS leader Tomislav Nikolić has a following of nine percent, while Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, president of the Democratic Party of Serbia, is endorsed by eight percent of voters.