Presidential candidates take part in TV debate

Presidential candidates took part in a TV debate on Wednesday night ahead of the second round of the election on May 20. Democratic Party (DS)-led coalition presidential candidate Boris Tadic told his opponent Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)-led coalition candidate Tomislav Nikolic that he made up the whole May 6 electoral theft. Presidential candidates take part in TV debate "I have always advocated clashes of ideas and not people, not a fight in the gladiator arena. You made the electoral fraud up, and nothing you said is true. If it were true, you would have initiated court proceedings either here (in Serbia) or you would address the court in Strasbourg, where you have been so many times," Tadic said and added that the lies had caused great damage to Serbia. Nikolic said that the election fraud did take place and called on the citizens of Serbia to go to polls on May 20 and "punish Tadic and DS." The SNS leader stated that he knew that many citizens had a troubled night after the elections, because the incumbent decided to keep their posts regardless of the results. "We went through a campaign in which the DS spent dozens of millions of euros to ruin the reputation of one man -Tomislav Nikolic, many votes were stolen, and state authorities do not want to investigate that," he explained. Nikolic also pointed out that many people had asked him why he would take part in the runoff at all, and that he told them that he could not leave Serbia in Tadic’s hands, and especially not in the hands of those around him. Tadic said late that Serbia had achieved major success in its foreign policy over the last few years and earned itself a great reputation. He underlined that the fact that Serbia was a EU-oriented country did not mean that it was not cooperating with other countries as well. “We have a good cooperation with Russia, and also the agreements on strategic cooperation with China, Spain, France, Italy, Turkey,” the DS leader explained. “The citizens benefit from that economically,” Tadic added. “The fact that Serbia chairs the OSCE and that Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic is a candidate for chairman of the UN General Assembly adds to the country's credibility,” he noted. "We pursue a foreseeable, peace-keeping and stable policy," Tadic stressed. Nikolic, on the other hand, said that during Tadic's presidency Serbia "was running away from cooperation with the Russian Federation for eight years." “Not until you were under pressure did you address Russia,” Nikolic said, and asked why only the SNS had the agreement on cooperation with the ruling United Russia if it was true that Tadic had good cooperation with the country. He pointed out that he advocated the policy of two doors - one leading to the East and other to the West. “Foreign policy depends on Serbia's economic power,” he said, and added that Tadic was avoiding talking about that. The SNS leader stressed that a lot had happened in the region and that Belgrade had expelled some ambassadors for recognizing the independence of Kosovo, while at the same time it turned a blind eye to some others that did the same. "We are roaming around and this will not go without consequences," Nikolic concluded. Both Tadic and Nikolic said that they advocated negotiations on the issue of Kosovo. In a fierce debate, the two candidates accused each other of having contributed to Kosovo's secession. Tadic said that Nikolic's most outrageous accusation was that he had contributed to Kosovo's independence, and asked Nikolic if he was still in favor of Serbia's joining the EU, and whether he had changed his mind. "Tonight I did not see where you stand when it comes to European Union and Kosovo, and I do not know if you are still committed to the EU pathway after your talks (with Democratic Party of Serbia leader Vojislav) Kostunica. You suggested saber rattling, and I suggested dialogue. We pursue our Kosovo policy solely through peaceful negotiations, diplomatic talks, and that is the only way in which we can preserve Kosovo," said the DS leader. Tadic said he had proposed a four-point plan as a solution to the Kosovo issue. "I will fight for this plan, and I have provided international collocutors for that. We have preserved Resolution 1244 and talks should continue. You do not have a concept for Kosovo," he concluded. Nikolic pointed out that the SNS' stance was that Kosovo was an integral part of Serbia and qualified as good that this was not one of the election campaign topics, adding that consensus would be reached about the issue once he became a president of Serbia. "I have been urging Tadic for over a year now that we achieve consensus so as to make Serbia stronger, and that we also assume part of responsibility for Kosovo. I will not miss the chance to invite the DS leader to discuss that, since Kosovo is a territory which belongs to Serbia," Nikolic stressed. "During Tadic's rule, Kosovo was recognized as an independent state. Tadic wrote a proposal asking the (International) Court (of Justice) in The Hague to present its view on the independence, which enabled them to state their opinion about the paper itself, and not about whether it is in keeping with international law," he said and added that he preferred talks, regardless of all the difficulties they may imply. Boris Tadic and Tomislav Nikolic are seen during the debate (Tanjug) Tanjug

Presidential candidates take part in TV debate

"I have always advocated clashes of ideas and not people, not a fight in the gladiator arena. You made the electoral fraud up, and nothing you said is true. If it were true, you would have initiated court proceedings either here (in Serbia) or you would address the court in Strasbourg, where you have been so many times," Tadić said and added that the lies had caused great damage to Serbia.

Nikolić said that the election fraud did take place and called on the citizens of Serbia to go to polls on May 20 and "punish Tadić and DS."

The SNS leader stated that he knew that many citizens had a troubled night after the elections, because the incumbent decided to keep their posts regardless of the results.

"We went through a campaign in which the DS spent dozens of millions of euros to ruin the reputation of one man -Tomislav Nikolić, many votes were stolen, and state authorities do not want to investigate that," he explained.

Nikolić also pointed out that many people had asked him why he would take part in the runoff at all, and that he told them that he could not leave Serbia in Tadić’s hands, and especially not in the hands of those around him.

Tadić said late that Serbia had achieved major success in its foreign policy over the last few years and earned itself a great reputation.

He underlined that the fact that Serbia was a EU-oriented country did not mean that it was not cooperating with other countries as well.

“We have a good cooperation with Russia, and also the agreements on strategic cooperation with China, Spain, France, Italy, Turkey,” the DS leader explained.

“The citizens benefit from that economically,” Tadić added.

“The fact that Serbia chairs the OSCE and that Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić is a candidate for chairman of the UN General Assembly adds to the country's credibility,” he noted.

"We pursue a foreseeable, peace-keeping and stable policy," Tadić stressed.

Nikolić, on the other hand, said that during Tadić's presidency Serbia "was running away from cooperation with the Russian Federation for eight years."

“Not until you were under pressure did you address Russia,” Nikolić said, and asked why only the SNS had the agreement on cooperation with the ruling United Russia if it was true that Tadić had good cooperation with the country.

He pointed out that he advocated the policy of two doors - one leading to the East and other to the West.

“Foreign policy depends on Serbia's economic power,” he said, and added that Tadić was avoiding talking about that.

The SNS leader stressed that a lot had happened in the region and that Belgrade had expelled some ambassadors for recognizing the independence of Kosovo, while at the same time it turned a blind eye to some others that did the same.

"We are roaming around and this will not go without consequences," Nikolić concluded.

Both Tadić and Nikolić said that they advocated negotiations on the issue of Kosovo.

In a fierce debate, the two candidates accused each other of having contributed to Kosovo's secession.

Tadić said that Nikolić's most outrageous accusation was that he had contributed to Kosovo's independence, and asked Nikolić if he was still in favor of Serbia's joining the EU, and whether he had changed his mind.

"Tonight I did not see where you stand when it comes to European Union and Kosovo, and I do not know if you are still committed to the EU pathway after your talks (with Democratic Party of Serbia leader Vojislav) Koštunica. You suggested saber rattling, and I suggested dialogue. We pursue our Kosovo policy solely through peaceful negotiations, diplomatic talks, and that is the only way in which we can preserve Kosovo," said the DS leader.

Tadić said he had proposed a four-point plan as a solution to the Kosovo issue.

"I will fight for this plan, and I have provided international collocutors for that. We have preserved Resolution 1244 and talks should continue. You do not have a concept for Kosovo," he concluded.

Nikolić pointed out that the SNS' stance was that Kosovo was an integral part of Serbia and qualified as good that this was not one of the election campaign topics, adding that consensus would be reached about the issue once he became a president of Serbia.

"I have been urging Tadić for over a year now that we achieve consensus so as to make Serbia stronger, and that we also assume part of responsibility for Kosovo. I will not miss the chance to invite the DS leader to discuss that, since Kosovo is a territory which belongs to Serbia," Nikolić stressed.

"During Tadić's rule, Kosovo was recognized as an independent state. Tadić wrote a proposal asking the (International) Court (of Justice) in The Hague to present its view on the independence, which enabled them to state their opinion about the paper itself, and not about whether it is in keeping with international law," he said and added that he preferred talks, regardless of all the difficulties they may imply.