Serbia's new president addresses reporters

The winner of the Serbian presidential election Tomislav Nikolic thanked the citizens who brought him victory in the second round of voting. "I wish to thank the people of Serbia who voted for me and those who voted for my opponent," the SNS party leader stated, adding the election had gone by "magnificently, in a Serbian way, which is the proper way." Serbia's new president addresses reporters Serbia "will not stray from the European path", and "will not abandon its people in Kosovo and Metohija either", the country's new leader said in his first public address after the polls closed in the presidential runoff on Sunday. click for more photos "This is the height of my political career and the happiest day in my life," Nikolic said. "I don't wish for anyone to face the sort of campaign that I and my party had to face in this period. I wish to assure you that Serbia can be a modern, normal country," he said in his address, and added: "I bear no grudge against anyone, I will cooperate with everyone. I have been in a position to congratulate others on several occasions, I expect others to congratulate me now, and I expect to start carrying out the difficult task that I have taken over this evening." "Serbia must develop its economy. The things I pointed out during the campaign must be improved. We have to free ourselves of poverty. We must free ourselves of the low birth rates, bribery, corruption and have friends all over the world," he noted, adding that Serbia "must get rid of partisan oligarchy". Nikolic, who during the campaign prepared his resignation as SNS president in anticipation of his presidential election victory, pointed out that he wished to be the president of all Serbian citizens, those who voted for him and those who voted for his opponent: "I no longer belong to any political parties. I know better than anyone what kind of people politicians are." Nikolic was for many years a top official of the Serb Radical Party (SRS), but in 2008 formed his own - the SNS - as an offshoot of the SRS. The 60-year-old was born in the town of Kragujevac, central Serbia. He is married and a father of two. Nikolic's rival, Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic conceded defeat and congratulated Nikolic on his victory, and noted that while his party will on Monday start negotiations to form the country's new government, he "certainly will not be the new prime minister". Meanwhile, SNS voters and party activists have began celebrations in the streets of several Serbian towns. Nikolic addresses reporters late on Sunday in Belgrade (Beta) B92 Tanjug

Serbia's new president addresses reporters

Serbia "will not stray from the European path", and "will not abandon its people in Kosovo and Metohija either", the country's new leader said in his first public address after the polls closed in the presidential runoff on Sunday.

click for more photos

"This is the height of my political career and the happiest day in my life," Nikolić said.

"I don't wish for anyone to face the sort of campaign that I and my party had to face in this period. I wish to assure you that Serbia can be a modern, normal country," he said in his address, and added:

"I bear no grudge against anyone, I will cooperate with everyone. I have been in a position to congratulate others on several occasions, I expect others to congratulate me now, and I expect to start carrying out the difficult task that I have taken over this evening."

"Serbia must develop its economy. The things I pointed out during the campaign must be improved. We have to free ourselves of poverty. We must free ourselves of the low birth rates, bribery, corruption and have friends all over the world," he noted, adding that Serbia "must get rid of partisan oligarchy".

Nikolić, who during the campaign prepared his resignation as SNS president in anticipation of his presidential election victory, pointed out that he wished to be the president of all Serbian citizens, those who voted for him and those who voted for his opponent:

"I no longer belong to any political parties. I know better than anyone what kind of people politicians are."

Nikolić was for many years a top official of the Serb Radical Party (SRS), but in 2008 formed his own - the SNS - as an offshoot of the SRS.

The 60-year-old was born in the town of Kragujevac, central Serbia. He is married and a father of two.

Nikolić's rival, Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadić conceded defeat and congratulated Nikolić on his victory, and noted that while his party will on Monday start negotiations to form the country's new government, he "certainly will not be the new prime minister".

Meanwhile, SNS voters and party activists have began celebrations in the streets of several Serbian towns.