Presidential candidates agree to televised debate

Leader of the Serb Progressives Tomislav Nikolic has challenged his presidential race rival Boris Tadic, president the Democratic Party, to a "TV duel". Nikolic made the suggestion on Tuesday, and shortly afterwards,Tadic accepted it. Presidential candidates agree to televised debate Addressing a rally in Stara Pazova, north of Belgrade, Nikolic said the purpose of the debate, which he suggested should be hosted by the country's state broadcaster RTS, would be "to clarify who did what and how (their) property was acquired". "I see that the former president doubts my honesty. I support the idea that the deeds of all be examined, but I want to know why it took him (Tadic) eight years to bring that up," Nikolic said. The SNS leader added that he did not expect the support of other parties in the second round - but rather of the citizens who want changes. "I call on all citizens to go to the polls and vote for their president, regardless of the fact that their candidate may not be on the list. Let them decide who they want, and say whether they want the agony we have been living in to continue, or if they want us to do many good things to the benefit of the Serbian citizens," Nikolic said. The SNS leader underlined that his party "has not yet held talks" on the forming Serbia's next government and on endorsements for his presidental bid, adding that they would not address the former issue "until after the second round". In the first round of the presidential election on May 6, Tadic received 25.33 percent of the vote, while Nikolic won 24.99 percent . The runoff will be held on Sunday, May 20. (Tanjug, file) Challenge accepted Boris Tadic told reporters in the town of Rekovac, where he was campaigning on Tuesday, that he had accepted Nikolic's invitation to a TV debate. The state television announced in the meantime that the debate will be hosted on May 16. "This will in fact be a test of political intentions of leader of the Serb Progressive Party," asserted Tadic, who will on May 20 seek his third term in office as Serbia's president. Tadic added that his opponent "should be ashamed of what he had been saying, because that would be a proper way to express a different political intention". "I believe no one is as irresponsible as to allow for Serbia to face uncertainty, and no one knows what Serbia would look like and how Tomislav Nikolic would run it," Tadic told reporters in the central Serbian town. According to him, the debate "should present what both candidates had done and spoken of before, and what they do today". "It should lay out exactly what I spoke about and did in the 1990s, and those were the same things I think and say today. There was never any difference between my thoughts and actions," Tadic claimed. He added that he "entertained certain illusions", but that he in the meantime "accepted and corrected his mistakes". "However, there is a huge difference in what my opponent was saying, not to mention the differences in his actions," said the DS leader. "I am ready to discuss everything and in any language Tomislav Nikolic may choose," Tadic was also quoted as saying. Tanjug

Presidential candidates agree to televised debate

Addressing a rally in Stara Pazova, north of Belgrade, Nikolić said the purpose of the debate, which he suggested should be hosted by the country's state broadcaster RTS, would be "to clarify who did what and how (their) property was acquired".

"I see that the former president doubts my honesty. I support the idea that the deeds of all be examined, but I want to know why it took him (Tadić) eight years to bring that up," Nikolić said.

The SNS leader added that he did not expect the support of other parties in the second round - but rather of the citizens who want changes.

"I call on all citizens to go to the polls and vote for their president, regardless of the fact that their candidate may not be on the list. Let them decide who they want, and say whether they want the agony we have been living in to continue, or if they want us to do many good things to the benefit of the Serbian citizens," Nikolić said.

The SNS leader underlined that his party "has not yet held talks" on the forming Serbia's next government and on endorsements for his presidental bid, adding that they would not address the former issue "until after the second round".

In the first round of the presidential election on May 6, Tadić received 25.33 percent of the vote, while Nikolić won 24.99 percent . The runoff will be held on Sunday, May 20.

Challenge accepted

Boris Tadić told reporters in the town of Rekovac, where he was campaigning on Tuesday, that he had accepted Nikolić's invitation to a TV debate.

The state television announced in the meantime that the debate will be hosted on May 16.

"This will in fact be a test of political intentions of leader of the Serb Progressive Party," asserted Tadić, who will on May 20 seek his third term in office as Serbia's president.

Tadić added that his opponent "should be ashamed of what he had been saying, because that would be a proper way to express a different political intention".

"I believe no one is as irresponsible as to allow for Serbia to face uncertainty, and no one knows what Serbia would look like and how Tomislav Nikolić would run it," Tadić told reporters in the central Serbian town.

According to him, the debate "should present what both candidates had done and spoken of before, and what they do today".

"It should lay out exactly what I spoke about and did in the 1990s, and those were the same things I think and say today. There was never any difference between my thoughts and actions," Tadić claimed.

He added that he "entertained certain illusions", but that he in the meantime "accepted and corrected his mistakes".

"However, there is a huge difference in what my opponent was saying, not to mention the differences in his actions," said the DS leader.

"I am ready to discuss everything and in any language Tomislav Nikolić may choose," Tadić was also quoted as saying.