"I'm both nationalist and democrat," president says

Serbia's newly-elected president Tomislav Nikolic told Russia Today that he is a nationalist, but also a democrat who will respect European values. This respect comes "because of the Serbian Constitution", he said, and added he took part in writing it along with former President Boris Tadic, and former PM Vojislav Kostunica. "I'm both nationalist and democrat," president says "Probably a lot of time will pass till the western press accepts me and treats me fairly, as during many years they wrote negatively about me," Nikolic said in an interview for the Russian TV station. Speaking about Serbia's EU path, he said that the process should stop "only if they ask us to renounce a part of our territory - Kosovo and Metohija." "The moment they impose such conditions I will tell people immediately," Nikolic said, and added that if the citizens no longer want to see him in the position, he will resign as the president. Asked whether a referendum on joining the EU will be held, he replied positively, adding that this will be done the moment when all the conditions are fulfilled for Serbia's entry to the EU. "My only fear is that they will impose conditions that I personally wouldn't accept, but the citizens would probably say 'let's fulfill them, too, because we want to be in the EU'. I won with the support of 50 percent of voters, I know the other half did not support my ideas. That's why I believe I should ask them too, " Nikolic added. "Will Serbia enter the EU? I don't know," said the new president-elect, and pointed out that today it is clear that the country will not be in the EU in the next 10 years. When asked whether he is ready to maintain dialogue with Pristina and its prime minister, Nikolic said he is ready for talks but not with Hashim Thaci, because of the suspicions that he committed crimes against Serbs. Speaking about the idea of a partition of Kosovo, Nikolic said that at this moment, and from the point of view of the Constitution, this is not possible. "If the majority of the citizens of Serbia say yes in a referendum? I don't know," he added. Nikolic said that he would prefer not to have to make the choice between the EU and Russia, saying that his victory in the presidential elections was that of "both EU and Russia", rather than "EU or Russia": "I would like Serbia to be a home with two doors, one to the West, and the other to the East. Serbia simply belongs to the East as well as to the West. I know where my heart is and everybody in Serbia knows that, but I also think that we can be a good bridge between Europe and Russia and the best partner of Russia in the EU." "Serbia will never join NATO, as this is the will of the majority of the Serbian people," Nikolic said, and voiced belief that the EU will never impose this request as a condition for full-fledged membership. Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug RT

"I'm both nationalist and democrat," president says

"Probably a lot of time will pass till the western press accepts me and treats me fairly, as during many years they wrote negatively about me," Nikolić said in an interview for the Russian TV station.

Speaking about Serbia's EU path, he said that the process should stop "only if they ask us to renounce a part of our territory - Kosovo and Metohija."

"The moment they impose such conditions I will tell people immediately," Nikolić said, and added that if the citizens no longer want to see him in the position, he will resign as the president.

Asked whether a referendum on joining the EU will be held, he replied positively, adding that this will be done the moment when all the conditions are fulfilled for Serbia's entry to the EU.

"My only fear is that they will impose conditions that I personally wouldn't accept, but the citizens would probably say 'let's fulfill them, too, because we want to be in the EU'. I won with the support of 50 percent of voters, I know the other half did not support my ideas. That's why I believe I should ask them too, " Nikolić added.

"Will Serbia enter the EU? I don't know," said the new president-elect, and pointed out that today it is clear that the country will not be in the EU in the next 10 years.

When asked whether he is ready to maintain dialogue with Priština and its prime minister, Nikolić said he is ready for talks but not with Hashim Thaci, because of the suspicions that he committed crimes against Serbs.

Speaking about the idea of a partition of Kosovo, Nikolić said that at this moment, and from the point of view of the Constitution, this is not possible.

"If the majority of the citizens of Serbia say yes in a referendum? I don't know," he added.

Nikolić said that he would prefer not to have to make the choice between the EU and Russia, saying that his victory in the presidential elections was that of "both EU and Russia", rather than "EU or Russia":

"I would like Serbia to be a home with two doors, one to the West, and the other to the East. Serbia simply belongs to the East as well as to the West. I know where my heart is and everybody in Serbia knows that, but I also think that we can be a good bridge between Europe and Russia and the best partner of Russia in the EU."

"Serbia will never join NATO, as this is the will of the majority of the Serbian people," Nikolić said, and voiced belief that the EU will never impose this request as a condition for full-fledged membership.