Kosovo Serbs split over candidates

Kosovo Serb leaders are divided over who they will support in Sunday’s presidential elections. Leader of the Serb List for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic says that Serbia has a better chance for European integration with Democratic Party (DS) candidate Boris Tadic, and accuses Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica of hypocritically trying to stop Tadic from signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU. Kosovo Serbs split over candidates On the other hand, President of the Serb National Council of Northern Kosovo Milan Ivanovic has called on Kosovo Serbs to vote for Serb Radical Party (SRS) candidate Tomislav Nikolic. Oliver Ivanovic supports Boris Tadic and, as he says, profoundly hopes that he will win on February 3. He warns that the other scenario would be viewed by the EU as a renewal of the policies of Slobodan Milosevic. “If Nikolic wins, I think the plan is already prepared. Europe would not have any more reason to hesitate or feel uncomfortable about violating international law or Resolution 1244. I think that the Kosovo Albanians would proclaim independence the very next day, or within the first week at least, and that all European countries, without much consideration, would recognize its independence,” says the leader of the Serb List. Meanwhile, Milan Ivanovic expects a resounding victory for the SRS. “We expect the results of the second round of elections to be in Nikolic’s favor, with him getting up to 80 percent of the vote," he predicts. Neither do the two Kosovo leaders agree on the implications of the presidential elections on the province’s status. Milan Ivanovic says that voting for the Radicals is voting for Kosovo to remain a part of Serbia, while Oliver Ivanovic says that only way Serbia can expect to preserve its territory and its chances of becoming an EU member is by re-electing Tadic. Oliver Ivanovic (Vreme archive)

Kosovo Serbs split over candidates

On the other hand, President of the Serb National Council of Northern Kosovo Milan Ivanović has called on Kosovo Serbs to vote for Serb Radical Party (SRS) candidate Tomislav Nikolić.

Oliver Ivanović supports Boris Tadić and, as he says, profoundly hopes that he will win on February 3.

He warns that the other scenario would be viewed by the EU as a renewal of the policies of Slobodan Milošević.

“If Nikolić wins, I think the plan is already prepared. Europe would not have any more reason to hesitate or feel uncomfortable about violating international law or Resolution 1244. I think that the Kosovo Albanians would proclaim independence the very next day, or within the first week at least, and that all European countries, without much consideration, would recognize its independence,” says the leader of the Serb List.

Meanwhile, Milan Ivanović expects a resounding victory for the SRS.

“We expect the results of the second round of elections to be in Nikolić’s favor, with him getting up to 80 percent of the vote," he predicts.

Neither do the two Kosovo leaders agree on the implications of the presidential elections on the province’s status.

Milan Ivanović says that voting for the Radicals is voting for Kosovo to remain a part of Serbia, while Oliver Ivanović says that only way Serbia can expect to preserve its territory and its chances of becoming an EU member is by re-electing Tadić.